Google Rolls Out New Version of AIY Kits For Educational Use

Google has released an updated version of its AIY kits as part of a broader effort to help educators incorporate the tools into their STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) lessons. AIY kits consist of the Voice Kit, which allows users to develop a smart speaker that can be controlled by voice just like Google Home and Amazon Alexa, and the Vision Kit, which is designed for creating a camera that can identify individuals and objects.

The package also includes the new Raspberry Pi Zero WH, which works with the kits so that the setup process is now easier to perform. Meanwhile, the Raspberry Pi Camera version 2 is also included in the new AIY Vision Kit. Both the new Voice Kit and Vision Kit are now available from Target’s stores and online portal, with Google promising to roll out the kits to global retailers in the future. The do-it-yourself kits are part of the AIY Projects launched last year by the Mountain View, California-based company in an effort to help creative individuals combine artificial intelligence (AI) into their craft using a simple AI setup. The solution initially debuted with the Voice Kit, which allowed users to gain access to resources via cloud services using Google Assistant SDK or Android Things. The Vision Kit, on the other hand, was introduced late last year as a simple cardboard camera mounting with a lens when fully assembled. It also comes with ports and holes to run hardware to and from the built-in logic board. Other components included in the kit are a button, a piezo speaker, and a mounting nut for a tripod. Back then, users had to add in their own Raspberry Pi board and camera.

Along with the updated 2018 kits, Google also launched a companion app on the Play Store to help users configure the kits easily by connecting their device to a Wi-Fi network and obtaining an IP address to communicate with the AIY device wirelessly from a PC. It allows users to connect their assembled Vision or Voice Kit to a Wi-Fi network from their mobile device. The app is available for download by clicking on the button below. Google also says it will be introducing the iOS and Chrome companions of the kits in the near future.

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