Install the firmware and set up Peter, the talking portrait. Chrome or Edge on a computer, USB cable to the board.
1. Install firmware
Plug the board in with a USB cable, click Install and pick the port that appears. If the board is not found, hold the BOOT button while plugging the cable in, then try again. Close the Arduino Serial Monitor first: it keeps the port busy.
Use Chrome or Edge on a computer.Open this page over HTTPS.
Full install for a new board. Erases Peter's memory and all settings.
For a board that already runs Peter. Keeps Wi-Fi, key, settings and memory.
Close the install window when it says it is done, then continue below.
2. Connect to Peter not connected
Opens the same USB port to read and change the settings.
3. Settings
Change what you need and click Save. Peter restarts and uses the new settings.
Wi-Fi and key
Stored only on the board, never on this website.
Personality
You can write {name} anywhere, it is replaced with the name above. Keep it under about 3500 characters.
Voice
There is no child voice, so the base voice sets the timbre and this text makes it sound like a nine-year-old. Try a few voices by ear.
Advanced: servos, microphone, lipsync
Mouth servo
Eyes servo
Safety
If nobody talks to Peter for this long, both servos switch off so a stuck servo cannot overheat. Talking to him wakes them up. 0 = never.
Lipsync and microphone
Mouth sensitivity: lower opens the mouth wider. Speech threshold: raise it in a noisy room if Peter reacts to noise.
Reset brings back the firmware's name, character, voice and servo angles. Wi-Fi, key and memory stay.
Memory
Peter keeps short notes about the people he talks with.
Log
What the board prints. Useful when something does not work.
Help
Nothing happens on Connect: close the Arduino Serial Monitor or any other page that uses the port, unplug and plug the cable back in.
Peter does not talk after Save: look at the log. "WiFi ... failed" means a wrong network name or password. "API key not set" or an error 401 means the key is missing or wrong.
Peter reacts to background noise: raise Speech threshold in Advanced.
Eyes stopped moving: after the sleep timeout the servos switch off on purpose. Say something to Peter.