Introduction
The Satellite 1 Developer Kit is the first version of our private voice assistant hardware and is the foundation for the larger ecosystem we're building. The Dev Kit comprises of two components that we call "the HAT" (round board) and "the Core" (rectangular board). When you connect these two components together you get the Satellite1 Dev Kit.
Quick Live Demo
When properly set up the Satellite1 can be even more powerful than some of the mainstream voice assistants out there. Watch the live demo section of our launch video to get a sense of the Satellite1 capabilities:
Detailed Specifications & Features
You can read detailed sepecifications about the hardware on their product pages.
Requirements
The Satellite1 has a few requirements to get up and running.
- An active installation of Home Assistant
- A 2.4 GHz WiFi network (internet is not required)
- The recommended Satellite1 accessories (see Recommended Accessories)
Future Modules, Enclosures & AI Server
In the future we will announce modules, enclosures, and mount kits that easily connect your Satellite1 Dev Kit to make a complete product. We will also be releasing an AI Base Station that will power all the Satellite1's in your home.
Satellite1 vs. Home Assistant Voice Preview Edition
The following table compares the main features of the Sat1 and Home Assistant Voice PE products. Both products run the same ESP32-S3 and XMOS chip. Our firmwares are also extremely similar (by design, to increase engagement and keep the community moving together). In general, it is fair to say that the Sat1 is more feature rich, but lacks an enclosure (hence why we're a Dev Kit). Our enclosure is coming in Q1'25 so feel free to get your Dev Kit now!
| Feature | Satellite1 | Home Assistant Voice PE |
|---|---|---|
| Microphones | Four high-performance microphones (XMOS firmware uses two microphones currently. Future firmware upgrade will utalize all 4 microphones with beamforming). | Two microphones designed to hear voice commands in most environments. |
| Speaker Output | 25W speaker amplifier capable of 48 kHz audio streaming. Also allows 3.5mm jack for external speakers. | Built-in 3W speaker for 48 kHz playback; includes a 3.5mm stereo jack for external speakers. |
| Environmental Sensors | Includes room temperature, humidity, and luminosity sensors; supports adding mmWave presence detection (LD2410 or LD2450). | Primarily focused on voice assistance; does not include additional environmental sensors. |
| Form Factor | Available as a development kit with 4 buit-in buttons and components for assembly; official enclosure planned for future release. | Comes in a ready-to-use injection-molded case with physical controls, including a mute switch and volume dial. |
| Price | $69.99 for the development kit. | $59 for the Preview Edition. |
| Power | Powered by USB-C PD (Power Delivery), enabling the extra power needed for the 25W amplifier. | Powered by USB-C. |
| Expansion | Includes two 40-pin expansion connectors for powerful future accessories. | Grove port for limited expansion. |
| LED Ring | 24 LEDs for visual feedback. | 12 LEDs for visual feedback. |
| Software | ESPHome Firmware very similar to Home Assistant Voice | ESPhome firmware for Home Assistant Voice |