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Potato GLaDOS is a real DIY voice-satellite project: a ReSpeaker Lite board in a Portal-inspired, 3D-printed potato shell, connected to Home Assistant. It can use voice commands to control devices already set up in Home Assistant and answer aloud in a GLaDOS-style voice. It is a maker build, not a standalone smart speaker or official Portal product.
What Potato GLaDOS is—and what it is not
Maker Pham Binh published the project on Hackster.io on April 12, 2025. Its core is a Seeed Studio ReSpeaker Lite Kit running ESPHome. The ReSpeaker acts primarily as an audio endpoint: it listens for speech and plays responses, while Home Assistant coordinates the voice pipeline and smart-home actions. The project is also summarized in a later Seeed Studio roundup.
It can control lights, switches, fans, thermostats, scenes, media players and other supported entities that are integrated with Home Assistant and made available to Assist. It does not make an ordinary appliance smart by itself. Clear entity names, areas and permissions matter: “turn on the kitchen light” is more dependable than a vague request when several devices could match.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe project is Portal-inspired, not an official Valve or Portal device. The GLaDOS-style voice and personality are customizations, not evidence of endorsement by the rights holder.
#1 Best Overall
- Includes Raspberry Pi 5 with 2.4Ghz 64-bit quad-core CPU (8GB RAM)
- Includes 128GB Micro SD Card pre-loaded with 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS, USB MicroSD Card Reader
- CanaKit Turbine Black Case for the Raspberry Pi 5
- CanaKit Low Noise Bearing System Fan
- Mega Heat Sink - Black Anodized
How the voice path works
A spoken command travels through several components rather than being processed entirely by the potato-shaped device:
User voice
↓
ReSpeaker Lite microphone
↓
ESPHome voice-satellite firmware
↓
Wi-Fi / Wyoming connection
↓
Home Assistant Assist pipeline
├─ Speech-to-text
├─ Intent or conversation processing
├─ Home Assistant action
└─ Piper text-to-speech
↓
ReSpeaker Lite speaker
↓
Spoken response
The original setup names Whisper for speech-to-text, Google Gemini for conversation processing and Piper for text-to-speech, alongside a custom wake-word model. Those are choices in that setup, not a guarantee that every component is local, cloud-based, free or available in the same way in a later installation. Privacy, latency and account requirements depend on the specific integrations and services configured. Home Assistant’s voice-control documentation, Assist guide and Wyoming integration documentation explain the platform pieces; consult them for current setup details.
What you need
Hardware and fabrication
- Seeed Studio ReSpeaker Lite Kit and a USB-C cable that supports data transfer.
- Access to a 3D printer, filament, and the time and materials to finish the shell. The project author lists primer, paint, wood filler and sandpaper.
- Fasteners listed by the project: two M3 × 10 mm screws, one M3 × 20 mm screw and two M2 × 5 mm screws.
- A running Home Assistant server, a working Wi-Fi network shared with the satellite, and at least one device already integrated with Home Assistant. These are prerequisites, not included in the board’s price.
Depending on the board revision and enclosure assembly, you may also need basic wiring or soldering tools. The shell needs openings that let the microphones hear and the speaker sound through; a tightly enclosed board can compromise audio.
Rank #2
- Includes Raspberry Pi 4 4GB Model B with 1.5GHz 64-bit quad-core CPU (4GB RAM)
- Includes Pre-Loaded 32GB EVO+ Micro SD Card (Class 10), USB MicroSD Card Reader
- CanaKit Premium High-Gloss Raspberry Pi 4 Case with Integrated Fan Mount, CanaKit Low Noise Bearing System Fan
- CanaKit 3.5A USB-C Raspberry Pi 4 Power Supply (US Plug) with Noise Filter, Set of Heat Sinks, Display Cable - 6 foot (Supports up to 4K60p)
- CanaKit USB-C PiSwitch (On/Off Power Switch for Raspberry Pi 4)
Software and services
- Home Assistant with Assist and a configured voice pipeline.
- ESPHome firmware for the ReSpeaker, communicating with Home Assistant through the project’s Wyoming-based audio path.
- Speech-to-text, conversation or intent handling, and text-to-speech services selected for the pipeline.
- For the original character setup: a custom wake-word model, Piper, and a GLaDOS-style Piper voice model.
The project author estimated the build at under $50 when Home Assistant is already running. Treat that as the author’s conditional estimate, not a current all-in price: it excludes the existing server and smart devices, and actual costs vary with hardware, printing, finishing supplies and any selected services. No current ReSpeaker or server price is established here.
Build and configure it in a reliable order
1. Prove Home Assistant can control a device
Start with a device that works from the Home Assistant dashboard. Configure Assist and its voice pipeline, then test a simple request through an ordinary Assist interface, such as turning a known light on or off. Give the entity a clear name and area. This confirms the Home Assistant side before adding ESPHome, the enclosure or character customizations.
2. Flash and connect the ReSpeaker
The project uses ESPHome firmware based on a ReSpeaker satellite configuration. Its page shows this representative YAML:
Rank #3
- SMART HOME LEARNING KIT--This kit combines the most common electronic components of smart home projects,developed specially for those beginners who are interested in Arduino and raspberry pi DIY.
- THE PROFESSIONAL SMART HOME KIT--This has 16 sensors modules and delicately selected sensors to detect temperature, humidity, sound, light, infrared, motion, flame,vibration,digital touch, air pressure and many other commonly-used sensors modules.
- THE MOST COMPLETE SMART HOME KIT--This universal kit are compatible for Arduino UNO R3 / Mega2560 / Mega328 /Nano / Raspberry Pi, it could DIY 16 projects according to your need.
- HIGH QUALITY GUARANTEE--We eliminate many old-fashioned sensors which have low reliability and duplicate function as other sensor in the kit, the kookye modules sensor kits are choosed carefully for our user.
- DETAILED TUTORIAL ON OUR WEBSITE--Our website provide step-by-step instruction, detailed circuit connection graph/video, verified sample code and library package which can save lot of user's research time and speed up the learning progress.
packages: respeaker-satellite: !include common/respeaker-satellite-base.yaml esphome: name: respeaker-satellite friendly_name: GLaDOS wifi: ssid: !secret wifi_ssid password: !secret wifi_password
This is not a complete, standalone configuration: it depends on other project files, including a common directory and a main respeaker-lite.yaml file. Use the project walkthrough and its linked files, rather than copying only the excerpt. Follow current ESPHome documentation for flashing and device management.
After setup, confirm that the board joins Wi-Fi, appears connected in the expected Home Assistant/ESPHome setup, and can pass audio to and from the Assist pipeline. Exact discovery and interface steps can vary with Home Assistant and ESPHome versions.
3. Add and evaluate the custom wake word
The creator reports 99% accuracy and a 0.9 AUC for the custom GLaDOS wake-word model. These are project-reported evaluation figures, not an independent household benchmark or a promise of performance in a particular room. Distance, microphone openings, noise, speaker volume, accents and model configuration all affect detection. A supported standard wake word may be more reliable; keep the app or a physical switch as a fallback.
Rank #4
- Pi5 8GB Pack: RasTech Pi 5 8GB kit includes 1 x Pi5 8GB board ,1 x 64GB Card, 2 x Card Readers,1 x Active Cooler,1 x Case for Pi5, 2 x 4K Micro HD Out Cable,1 x GaN 27W 5A USB-C Power supply,1 x Screwdriver and 1 x instructions.
- Pi5 8GB Board: The Pi5 board is equipped with a 64-bit quad-core Arm Cortex-A76 processor running at 2.4GHz and an 800MHz VideoCore VII GPU with support for OpenGL ES 3.1 and Vulkan 1.2, which delivers a significant increase in graphics performance. Dual HD Out 4Kp60 display outputs and a built-in dual 4-channel MIPI camera/display transceiver provide state-of-the-art camera support. The Pi 5 offers a 2-3 times increase in CPU performance compare to Pi4.
- Important Graphics Features: Equipped with an 800MHz VideoCore VII GPU and providing better graphics performance, suitable for multimedia applications,gaming,and graphics intensive tasks.Provides 1 UART interface,1 card slot that supports high-speed operation, 2 USB. 3 0.5 ports that support synchronous 0Gbps operation,2 USB 2.0 port ports,2 4Kp60 display outputs that support HDR.Built-in dedicated dual 4-channel 1Gbps MIPI DSI/CSI connectors,triple the total bandwidth.
- Cooling Kit for Pi 5: Compatible with Active Cooler for Raspberry Pi5, It can provide Pi 5 board with better cooling effect in using. The Case can accurately access usb-c power jack,Micro HD Out ports, usb ports, Ethernet jack, card slot, power button, 4-lane MIPI DSI/CSI connectors and so on, and it also supports installation of cooling fan.
- 64GB Card Kit and GaN 27W USB-C Power Supply: With extra 64GB card to store more files and card readers for multiple medium, keep better performance for Raspberry Pi 5, 27W USB C Power Supply is Compatible with Pi5 8GB, offers a variety of output voltage options, including 5.1V at 5A, 9.0V at 3.0A, 12.0V at 2.25A, and 15.0V at 1.8A, providing for different device requirements.
4. Install the Piper voice
The project’s instructions place en_US-glados-medium.onnx and en_US-glados-medium.onnx.json in a piper directory under Home Assistant’s /share directory, then restart Home Assistant and select the voice in Assist’s American English voice settings. Verify the current path and selection controls against the installed Piper and Home Assistant versions. Attribute the model to its creator or repository as the project does; it should not be presented as official Valve software.
5. Add personality without weakening permissions
The project uses a conversational-agent prompt for brief, sarcastic, technical responses, limiting replies to two sentences and avoiding all-caps text because of text-to-speech behavior. Keep three things distinct: the instructions for controlling Home Assistant, the tone used to phrase responses, and safety restrictions. Personality should never grant extra authority. Require explicit confirmation—or keep voice control disabled—for locks, alarms, garage doors, ovens, heaters and other security-sensitive or hazardous equipment.
6. Print and finish the enclosure
The author modified a Portal-inspired model in Fusion 360; the project page says the repository includes separate top, bottom and eye .3mf files. The author reports a print of about 15 hours with no infill. That is a project-specific estimate, not a dependable schedule for other printers, layer heights, materials or slicer settings. The author also notes that drilling two small holes in the bottom can improve audio capture. Test the board outside the shell first, then check microphone and speaker performance after assembly.
Best Value
- Multiple Functions: This car has four drive wheels, the rotatable head has a camera and an ultrasonic distance sensor (Assembly required) (Raspberry Pi and Battery NOT included)
- Detailed Tutorial: Provides step-by-step assembly guide and complete Python code (The download link can be found on the product box) (No paper tutorial)
- Compatible Models: Raspberry Pi 5 / 4B / 3B+ / 3B / 3A+ (2B / 1B+ / 1A+ / Zero 2 W / Zero W / Zero 1.3 is also compatible but needs extra parts) (NOT included in this kit)
- Control Methods: Controlled wirelessly by your Android phone or tablet, iPhone (with Freenove App) and computer (run Windows, macOS or Raspberry Pi OS)
- Battery NOT Included: Please refer to the downloaded tutorial to buy
Test one layer at a time
- Confirm the target device works from the Home Assistant dashboard.
- Test the Assist pipeline from another interface with a simple, unambiguous command.
- Check ReSpeaker input and output outside the enclosure.
- Confirm ESPHome and the Home Assistant connection are stable.
- Try a supported wake word before switching to the custom model.
- Test GLaDOS text-to-speech, then the personality prompt.
- Try commands involving similarly named devices and multiple rooms; resolve ambiguity before relying on voice control.
- Keep security-sensitive actions restricted and test the fallback method.
Troubleshooting by symptom
The wake word does not trigger
- Test the board outside the shell to rule out blocked microphone openings; move it closer and reduce competing noise.
- Check the wake-word model location and firmware compatibility, then inspect ESPHome logs and Home Assistant device status.
- Try a supported standard wake word. If that works, the issue is more likely the custom model or its acoustic conditions than the whole audio path.
The wake word triggers, but the command fails
- Run the same request through another Assist client. If it fails there too, check the pipeline, entity exposure and Home Assistant integration before changing satellite firmware.
- Use a simple request and verify that the entity has an unambiguous name and area and works from the dashboard.
- Review Assist and automation logs, and confirm the pipeline has permission to act on the target entity.
The device responds but there is no sound
- Check speaker wiring and mounting, firmware, the Wyoming connection, volume and mute state.
- Confirm Piper is installed, the model and JSON filenames and paths are correct, and the Home Assistant audio output is configured. Restart after model changes if required by the installation.
The voice sounds wrong
Voice synthesis and personality are separate: Piper determines the sound; the conversation prompt determines wording and tone. Check that the selected Piper model, its JSON file, language setting and installed Piper version agree, and that the model loaded after restart. Prompt formatting can also produce unexpectedly long or odd responses.
It controls the wrong device
Stop using ambiguous commands until entity names and areas are clear. Avoid vague requests such as “turn it off” when several devices could match, and require confirmation for consequential actions. A novelty voice interface still controls real equipment.
Is Potato GLaDOS worth building?
It is a good fit for a Portal fan who already runs Home Assistant and wants a hands-on project involving ESP32 hardware, voice pipelines and 3D printing. It is a weaker choice for someone seeking a plug-and-play speaker, a guaranteed wake word, or a system with no server or configuration work. For everyday reliability, begin with a supported Home Assistant voice satellite and add the custom shell and voice only if the project itself is part of the appeal.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →For a purpose-built Home Assistant option, check current details on the official Home Assistant Voice page; availability, regional pricing and capabilities can change. A commercial smart speaker may be simpler and offer polished microphones or multi-room support, but usually offers less customization and may rely more heavily on a vendor ecosystem. Whichever route you choose, assess each speech, conversation and TTS service separately before assuming audio or text stays local.
For general Home Assistant voice setup and current platform guidance, use the official voice-control and Assist documentation alongside the original build instructions.
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