Realtime AI Fish (Big Mouth Billy Bass) Backplate
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Description
This project turns a ‘dumb’ Big Mouth Billy Bass into a real-time conversation partner using a Raspberry Pi 5.
It streams audio conversations to and from OpenAI’s GPT-4o-mini model, turns its head, flaps its tail and moves his mouth in sync with his speech.
You can trigger a conversation with Billy by pressing it's button. He’ll play one of the short wake-up phrases (which are also customisable) , then listen to your question or conversation. His personality and backstory can be adjusted via simple configuration files. It also supports MQTT, so you can integrate it with Home Assistant or other systems based on Billy's status (listening, speaking, idle).
In my situation I have an Home Assistant Automation that enables the smart plug which powers Billy when motion is detected and turns the lights in the bathroom blue when Billy is activated. When there is no motion detected in the bathroom HA will send a MQTT command after a few minutes to safely shut down the raspberry pi and turn off the smart plug.
Billy can be prompted to play a custom song and if the corresponding folder exists under sounds/songs/, he will:
- Play the main track via his speaker.
- Sync his mouth movement using a separate vocals track.
- Flap his tail in rhythm with a drums track.
- Optionally move his head at scheduled moments in the song, defined in a metadata.txt file.
⚠️ For more information check out the README
Printing Instructions:
The project file includes a custom 3D-printed backplate that houses a Raspberry pi 5 (use an active cooler for the Raspberry Pi), an USB speaker and USB microphone neatly behind Billy in it's original housing. It can be hung up the wall via the french cleat that can be mounted with screws or double sided (mounting) tape.
I recommend printing in PETG but PLA should also work fine. In that case keep an extra eye out on the temperature of the pi.
To keep somewhat of an airflow going on; don't manually close up the ‘holes’ in the walls of the existing housing.
Build instructions
Bill of Materials:
| Part | EU | Global |
|---|---|---|
| Big Mouth Billy Bass | Amazon | |
| Raspberry Pi 5 (4gb RAM or more recommended) | Kiwi Electronics | |
| Raspberry Pi Power Supply 45W | Kiwi Electronics | |
| MicroSD card ( for Raspberry OS Lite) | Kiwi Electronics | |
| Raspberry Pi Active Cooler | Kiwi Electronics | |
| 1x USB Speaker | Amazon | AliExpress |
| 1x USB Microphone | Amazon | AliExpress |
| 1x L298N Motor Driver | Amazon | AliExpress |
| Jumper Wires / Dupont Cables | Amazon | AliExpress |
| *JST 2.54 4 pin connector (female) | Amazon | AliExpress |
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License
You shall not share, sub-license, sell, rent, host, transfer, or distribute in any way the digital or 3D printed versions of this object, nor any other derivative work of this object in its digital or physical format (including - but not limited to - remixes of this object, and hosting on other digital platforms). The objects may not be used without permission in any way whatsoever in which you charge money, or collect fees.
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