The challenge

UPDATE: We've extended the contest to August 31st 2016 to give you more time to build, learn and earn!

Raspberry Pi and Amazon Alexa are calling on the DIY artisans of the world to join our Internet of Voice Challenge! How will you use Alexa to add voice control to your Raspberry Pi project?

Raspberry Pi and cloud-based voice services like Amazon Alexa enable makers to populate and advance the Internet of Things. Accessibility is key: the Raspberry Pi’s powerful computing combined with the templates and self-service tools in the Alexa Skills Kit (ASK) and Alexa Voice Service (AVS) enable voice control of just about any hardware.

The challenge:

Pick your favorite Rasberry Pi board, combine it with the Alexa ASK and/or AVS, and give life to a new voice-commanded hardware that was never seen before. We’d love to see how the community invents (and re-invents) voice-capable, connected devices.

There will be two prize categories: best Alexa Skills Kit (ASK) integration, and best Alexa Voice Service (AVS) integration.

Amazon will judge all entries and select winners based on the following criteria:

Best Use of the Alexa Skills Kit

Use of a Raspberry Pi (20 points)

Creativity (15 points)

Use of Voice User Interface (VUI) best practices (15 points)

Story/Instruction – Show how you created your project, including images, screenshots, and/or video (10 Points)

Project Documentation including VUI diagram (10 Points)

Code – Include working code with helpful comments (15 Points)

Published Skill (20 Points) (read more about skill submission criteria)

Best Use of the Alexa Voice Service

Use of a Raspberry Pi (20 points)

Creativity (15 points)

Use of Voice User Interface (VUI) best practices (15 points)

Story/Instruction – Show how you created your project, including images, screenshots, and/or video (10 Points)

Project Documentation including VUI diagram (10 Points)

Code – Include working code with helpful comments (15 Points)

BONUS - Published skill (10 points) (read more about skill submission criteria)

You are encouraged to build and submit more than one skill! We look forward to seeing what you create!

Here’s how to participate in the contest:

Create a free Hackster account Register to participate in the contest Create an Amazon Developer account using the same email you used for your Hackster account Design, build, and submit your Amazon Alexa Skill Submit your project on this contest page

Project submissions should include:

A link to your published Amazon Alexa Skill

Story and high-quality images

Clear project documentation including VUI diagram

BoM (materials used)

Source code

Alexa Skill Testing Tool

Now, can test your skills without a physical Echo from anywhere in the world. The Amazon Skill Testing Tool (EchoSim.io) by iQuarius Media is browser-based interface to Alexa, the voice service that powers Amazon Echo. Echosim.io is intended to allow developers who are working with the Alexa Skills Kit (ASK) to test skills in development

To use the Alexa Skill Testing Tool:

P.S. Devices will be shipped only to participants in the US. For winners living outside of the US, a gift card of equivalent value will be sent. When your skill is published, you may also be eligible to receive a free t-shirt from Amazon. See here for details.

P.S.S You can participate as a team, and we will ship the prize (should you win) to one designated person.