638 lines
30 KiB
Markdown
638 lines
30 KiB
Markdown
[//]: # (title: Create your smart baby monitor with Platypush and Tensorflow)
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[//]: # (description: Use open-source software and cheap hardware to build a solution that can detect your baby's cries.)
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[//]: # (image: /img/baby-1.png)
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[//]: # (author: Fabio Manganiello <fabio@platypush.tech>)
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[//]: # (published: 2020-10-31)
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Some of you may have noticed that it’s been a while since my last article. That’s because I’ve become a dad in the
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meantime, and I’ve had to take a momentary break from my projects to deal with some parental tasks that can’t (yet) be
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automated.
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Or, can they? While we’re probably still a few years away from a robot that can completely take charge of the task of
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changing your son’s diapers (assuming that enough crazy parents agree to test such a device on their own toddlers),
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there are some less risky parental duties out there that offer some margin for automation.
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One of the first things I’ve come to realize as a father is that infants can really cry a lot, and even if I’m at home I
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may not always be nearby enough to hear my son’s cries. Commercial baby monitors usually step in to fill that gap and
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they act as intercoms that let you hear your baby’s sounds even if you’re in another room. But I’ve soon realized that
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commercial baby monitors are dumber than the ideal device I’d want. They don’t detect your baby’s cries — they simply
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act like intercoms that take sound from a source to a speaker. It’s up to the parent to move the speaker as they move to
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different rooms, as they can’t play the sound on any other existing audio infrastructure. They usually come with
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low-power speakers, and they usually can’t be connected to external speakers — it means that if I’m in another room
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playing music I may miss my baby’s cries, even if the monitor is in the same room as mine. And most of them work on
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low-power radio waves, which means that they usually won’t work if the baby is in his/her room and you have to take a
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short walk down to the basement.
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So I’ve come with a specification for a smart baby monitor.
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- It should run on anything as simple and cheap as a RaspberryPi with a cheap USB microphone.
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- It should detect my baby’s cries and notify me (ideally on my phone) when he starts/stops crying, or track the data
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points on my dashboard, or do any kind of tasks that I’d want to run when my son is crying. It shouldn’t only act as a
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dumb intercom that delivers sound from a source to one single type of compatible device.
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- It should be able to stream the audio on any device — my own speakers, my smartphone, my computer etc.
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- It should work no matter the distance between the source and the speaker, with no need to move the speaker around the
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house.
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- It should also come with a camera, so I can either check in real-time how my baby is doing or I can get a picture or a
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short video feed of the crib when he starts crying to check that everything is alright.
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Let’s see how to use our favourite open-source tools to get this job done.
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## Recording some audio samples
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First of all, get a RaspberryPi and flash any compatible Linux OS on an SD card — it’s better to use a RaspberryPi 3
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or higher to run the Tensorflow model. Also get a compatible USB microphone — anything will work, really.
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Then install the dependencies that we’ll need:
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```shell
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[sudo] apt-get install ffmpeg lame libatlas-base-dev alsa-utils
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[sudo] pip3 install tensorflow
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```
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As a first step, we’ll have to record enough audio samples where the baby cries and where the baby doesn’t cry that
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we’ll use later to train the audio detection model. *Note: in this example I’ll show how to use sound detection to
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recognize a baby’s cries, but the same exact procedure can be used to detect any type of sounds — as long as they’re
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long enough (e.g. an alarm or your neighbour’s drilling) and loud enough over the background noise*.
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First, take a look at the recognized audio input devices:
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```shell
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arecord -l
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```
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On my RaspberryPi I get the following output (note that I have two USB microphones):
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```
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**** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
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card 1: Device [USB PnP Sound Device], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
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Subdevices: 0/1
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Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
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card 2: Device_1 [USB PnP Sound Device], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
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Subdevices: 0/1
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Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
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```
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I want to use the second microphone to record sounds — that’s card 2, device 0. The ALSA way of identifying it is either
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`hw:2,0` (which accesses the hardware device directly) or `plughw:2,0` (which infers sample rate and format conversion
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plugins if required). Make sure that you have enough space on your SD card or plug an external USB drive, and then start
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recording some audio:
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```shell
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arecord -D plughw:2,0 -c 1 -f cd | lame - audio.mp3
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```
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Record a few minutes or hours of audio while your baby is in the same room — preferably with long sessions both of
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silence, baby cries and other non-related sounds — and Ctrl-C the process when done. Repeat the procedure as many times
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as you like to get audio samples over different moments of the day or over different days.
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## Labeling the audio samples
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Once you have enough audio samples, it’s time to copy them over to your computer to train the model — either use `scp`
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to copy the files, or copy them directly from the SD card/USB drive.
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Let’s store them all under the same directory, e.g. `~/datasets/sound-detect/audio`. Also, let’s create a new folder for
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each of the samples. Each folder will contain an audio file (named `audio.mp3`) and a labels file (named `labels.json`)
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that we’ll use to label the negative/positive audio segments in the audio file. So the structure of the raw dataset will
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be something like:
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```
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~/datasets/sound-detect/audio
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-> sample_1
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-> audio.mp3
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-> labels.json
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-> sample_2
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-> audio.mp3
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-> labels.json
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...
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```
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The boring part comes now: labeling the recorded audio files — and it can be particularly masochistic if they contain
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hours of your own baby’s cries. Open each of the dataset audio files either in your favourite audio player or in
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Audacity and create a new `labels.json` file in each of the samples directories. Identify the exact times where the
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cries start and where they end, and report them in `labels.json` as a key-value structure in the
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form `time_string -> label`. Example:
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```json
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{
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"00:00": "negative",
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"02:13": "positive",
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"04:57": "negative",
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"15:41": "positive",
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"18:24": "negative"
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}
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```
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In the example above, all the audio segments between 00:00 and 02:12 will be labelled as negative, all the audio
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segments between 02:13 and 04:56 will be labelled as positive, and so on.
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## Generating the dataset
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Once you have labelled all the audio samples, let’s proceed with generating the dataset that will be fed to the
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Tensorflow model. I have created a generic library and set of utilities for sound monitoring called micmon. Let’s start
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with installing it:
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```shell
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git clone https://github.com/BlackLight/micmon.git
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cd micmon
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[sudo] pip3 install -r requirements.txt
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[sudo] python3 setup.py build install
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```
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The model is designed to work on frequency samples instead of raw audio. The reason is that, if we want to detect a
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specific sound, that sound will have a specific “spectral” signature — i.e. a base frequency (or a narrow range where
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the base frequency may usually fall) and a specific set of harmonics bound to the base frequency by specific ratios.
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Moreover, the ratios between such frequencies are not affected neither by amplitude (the frequency ratios are constant
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regardless of the input volume) nor by phase (a continuous sound will have the same spectral signature regardless of
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when you start recording it). Such an amplitude and time invariant property makes this approach much more likely to
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train a robust sound detection model compared to the case where we simply feed raw audio samples to a model. Moreover,
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this model can be simpler (we can easily group frequencies into bins without affecting the performance, thus we can
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effectively perform dimensional reduction), much lighter (the model will have between 50 and 100 frequency bands as
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input values, regardless of the sample duration, while one second of raw audio usually contains 44100 data points, and
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the length of the input increases with the duration of the sample) and less prone to overfit.
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`micmon` provides the logic to calculate the [*FFT*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_Fourier_transform) (Fast-Fourier
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Transform) of some segments of the audio samples, group the resulting spectrum into bands with low-pass and high-pass
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filters and save the result to a set of numpy compressed (`.npz`) files. You can do it over command-line through the
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`micmon-datagen` command:
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```shell
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micmon-datagen \
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--low 250 --high 2500 --bins 100 \
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--sample-duration 2 --channels 1 \
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~/datasets/sound-detect/audio \
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~/datasets/sound-detect/data
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```
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In the example above we generate a dataset from raw audio samples stored under `~/dataset/sound-detect/audio` and store
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the resulting spectral data to `~/datasets/sound-detect/data`. `--low` and `--high` respectively identify the lowest and
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highest frequency to be taken into account in the resulting spectrum. The default values are respectively 20 Hz (lowest
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frequency audible to a human ear) and 20 kHz (highest frequency audible to a healthy and young human ear). However, you
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may usually want to restrict this range to capture as much as possible of the sound that you want to detect and limit as
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much as possible any other type of audio background and unrelated harmonics. I have found in my case that a 250–2500 Hz
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range is good enough to detect baby cries. Baby cries are usually high-pitched (consider that the highest note an opera
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soprano can reach is around 1000 Hz), and you may usually want to at least double the highest frequency to make sure
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that you get enough higher harmonics (the harmonics are the higher frequencies that actually give a *timbre*, or colour,
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to a sound), but not too high to pollute the spectrum with harmonics from other background sounds. I also cut anything
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below 250 Hz — a baby’s cry sound probably won’t have much happening on those low frequencies, and including them may
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also skew detection. A good approach is to open some positive audio samples in e.g. Audacity or any equalizer/spectrum
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analyzer, check which frequencies are dominant in the positive samples and center your dataset around those frequencies.
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`--bins` specifies the number of groups for the frequency space (default: 100). A higher number of bins means a higher
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frequency resolution/granularity, but if it’s too high it may make the model prone to overfit.
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The script splits the original audio into smaller segments and it calculates the spectral “signature” of each of those
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segments. `--sample-duration` specifies how long each of these segments should be (default: 2 seconds). A higher value
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may work better with sounds that last longer, but it’ll decrease the time-to-detection and it’ll probably fail on short
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sounds. A lower value may work better with shorter sounds, but the captured segments may not have enough information to
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reliably identify the sound if the sound is longer.
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An alternative approach to the `micmon-datagen` script is to make your own script for generating the dataset through the
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provided micmon API. Example:
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```python
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import os
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from micmon.audio import AudioDirectory, AudioFile
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from micmon.dataset import DatasetWriter
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basedir = os.path.expanduser('~/datasets/sound-detect')
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audio_dir = os.path.join(basedir, 'audio')
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datasets_dir = os.path.join(basedir, 'data')
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cutoff_frequencies = [250, 2500]
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# Scan the base audio_dir for labelled audio samples
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audio_dirs = AudioDirectory.scan(audio_dir)
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# Save the spectrum information and labels of the samples to a
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# different compressed file for each audio file.
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for audio_dir in audio_dirs:
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dataset_file = os.path.join(datasets_dir, os.path.basename(audio_dir.path) + '.npz')
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print(f'Processing audio sample {audio_dir.path}')
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with AudioFile(audio_dir.audio_file, audio_dir.labels_file) as reader, \
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DatasetWriter(dataset_file,
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low_freq=cutoff_frequencies[0],
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high_freq=cutoff_frequencies[1]) as writer:
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for sample in reader:
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writer += sample
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```
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Whether you used `micmon-datagen` or the micmon Python API, at the end of the process you should find a bunch of `.npz`
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files under `~/datasets/sound-detect/data`, one for each labelled audio file in the original dataset. We can use this
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dataset to train our neural network for sound detection.
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## Training the model
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`micmon` uses Tensorflow+Keras to define and train the model. It can easily be done with the provided Python API.
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Example:
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```python
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import os
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from tensorflow.keras import layers
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from micmon.dataset import Dataset
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from micmon.model import Model
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# This is a directory that contains the saved .npz dataset files
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datasets_dir = os.path.expanduser('~/datasets/sound-detect/data')
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# This is the output directory where the model will be saved
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model_dir = os.path.expanduser('~/models/sound-detect')
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# This is the number of training epochs for each dataset sample
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epochs = 2
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# Load the datasets from the compressed files.
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# 70% of the data points will be included in the training set,
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# 30% of the data points will be included in the evaluation set
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# and used to evaluate the performance of the model.
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datasets = Dataset.scan(datasets_dir, validation_split=0.3)
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labels = ['negative', 'positive']
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freq_bins = len(datasets[0].samples[0])
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# Create a network with 4 layers (one input layer, two intermediate layers and one output layer).
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# The first intermediate layer in this example will have twice the number of units as the number
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# of input units, while the second intermediate layer will have 75% of the number of
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# input units. We also specify the names for the labels and the low and high frequency range
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# used when sampling.
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model = Model(
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[
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layers.Input(shape=(freq_bins,)),
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layers.Dense(int(2 * freq_bins), activation='relu'),
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layers.Dense(int(0.75 * freq_bins), activation='relu'),
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layers.Dense(len(labels), activation='softmax'),
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],
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labels=labels,
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low_freq=datasets[0].low_freq,
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high_freq=datasets[0].high_freq
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)
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# Train the model
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for epoch in range(epochs):
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for i, dataset in enumerate(datasets):
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print(f'[epoch {epoch+1}/{epochs}] [audio sample {i+1}/{len(datasets)}]')
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model.fit(dataset)
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evaluation = model.evaluate(dataset)
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print(f'Validation set loss and accuracy: {evaluation}')
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# Save the model
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model.save(model_dir, overwrite=True)
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```
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After running this script (and after you’re happy with the model’s accuracy) you’ll find your new model saved under
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`~/models/sound-detect`. In my case it was sufficient to collect ~5 hours of sounds from my baby’s room and define a
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good frequency range to train a model with >98% accuracy. If you trained this model on your computer, just copy it to
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the RaspberryPi and you’re ready for the next step.
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## Using the model for predictions
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Time to make a script that uses the previously trained model on live audio data from the microphone and notifies us when
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our baby is crying:
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```python
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import os
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from micmon.audio import AudioDevice
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from micmon.model import Model
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model_dir = os.path.expanduser('~/models/sound-detect')
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model = Model.load(model_dir)
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audio_system = 'alsa' # Supported: alsa and pulse
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audio_device = 'plughw:2,0' # Get list of recognized input devices with arecord -l
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with AudioDevice(audio_system, device=audio_device) as source:
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for sample in source:
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# Pause recording while we process the frame
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source.pause()
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prediction = model.predict(sample)
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print(prediction)
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# Resume recording
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source.resume()
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```
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Run the script on the RaspberryPi and leave it running for a bit — it will print `negative` if no cries have been
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detected over the past 2 seconds and `positive` otherwise.
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There’s not much use however in a script that simply prints a message to the standard output if our baby is crying — we
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want to be notified! Let’s use Platypush to cover this part. In this example, we’ll use
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the [`pushbullet`](https://docs.platypush.tech/en/latest/platypush/plugins/pushbullet.html) integration to send a
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message to our mobile when cry is detected. Let’s install Redis (used by Platypush to receive messages) and Platypush
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with the HTTP and Pushbullet integrations:
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```shell
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[sudo] apt-get install redis-server
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[sudo] systemctl start redis-server.service
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[sudo] systemctl enable redis-server.service
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[sudo] pip3 install 'platypush[http,pushbullet]'
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```
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Install the Pushbullet app on your smartphone and head to https://pushbullet.com to get an API token. Then create a
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`~/.config/platypush/config.yaml` file that enables the HTTP and Pushbullet integrations:
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```yaml
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backend.http:
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enabled: True
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pushbullet:
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token: YOUR_TOKEN
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```
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Now, let’s modify the previous script so that, instead of printing a message to the standard output, it triggers a
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[`CustomEvent`](https://docs.platypush.tech/en/latest/platypush/events/custom.html) that can be captured by a
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Platypush hook:
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```python
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#!/usr/bin/python3
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import argparse
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import logging
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import os
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import sys
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from platypush import RedisBus
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from platypush.message.event.custom import CustomEvent
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from micmon.audio import AudioDevice
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from micmon.model import Model
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logger = logging.getLogger('micmon')
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def get_args():
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parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
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parser.add_argument('model_path', help='Path to the file/directory containing the saved Tensorflow model')
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parser.add_argument('-i', help='Input sound device (e.g. hw:0,1 or default)', required=True, dest='sound_device')
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parser.add_argument('-e', help='Name of the event that should be raised when a positive event occurs', required=True, dest='event_type')
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parser.add_argument('-s', '--sound-server', help='Sound server to be used (available: alsa, pulse)', required=False, default='alsa', dest='sound_server')
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parser.add_argument('-P', '--positive-label', help='Model output label name/index to indicate a positive sample (default: positive)', required=False, default='positive', dest='positive_label')
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parser.add_argument('-N', '--negative-label', help='Model output label name/index to indicate a negative sample (default: negative)', required=False, default='negative', dest='negative_label')
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parser.add_argument('-l', '--sample-duration', help='Length of the FFT audio samples (default: 2 seconds)', required=False, type=float, default=2., dest='sample_duration')
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parser.add_argument('-r', '--sample-rate', help='Sample rate (default: 44100 Hz)', required=False, type=int, default=44100, dest='sample_rate')
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parser.add_argument('-c', '--channels', help='Number of audio recording channels (default: 1)', required=False, type=int, default=1, dest='channels')
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parser.add_argument('-f', '--ffmpeg-bin', help='FFmpeg executable path (default: ffmpeg)', required=False, default='ffmpeg', dest='ffmpeg_bin')
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parser.add_argument('-v', '--verbose', help='Verbose/debug mode', required=False, action='store_true', dest='debug')
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parser.add_argument('-w', '--window-duration', help='Duration of the look-back window (default: 10 seconds)', required=False, type=float, default=10., dest='window_length')
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parser.add_argument('-n', '--positive-samples', help='Number of positive samples detected over the window duration to trigger the event (default: 1)', required=False, type=int, default=1, dest='positive_samples')
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opts, args = parser.parse_known_args(sys.argv[1:])
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return opts
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def main():
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args = get_args()
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if args.debug:
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logger.setLevel(logging.DEBUG)
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model_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.expanduser(args.model_path))
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model = Model.load(model_dir)
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window = []
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cur_prediction = args.negative_label
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bus = RedisBus()
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with AudioDevice(system=args.sound_server,
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device=args.sound_device,
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sample_duration=args.sample_duration,
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sample_rate=args.sample_rate,
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channels=args.channels,
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ffmpeg_bin=args.ffmpeg_bin,
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debug=args.debug) as source:
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for sample in source:
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# Pause recording while we process the frame
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source.pause()
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prediction = model.predict(sample)
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logger.debug(f'Sample prediction: {prediction}')
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has_change = False
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if len(window) < args.window_length:
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window += [prediction]
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else:
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window = window[1:] + [prediction]
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positive_samples = len([pred for pred in window if pred == args.positive_label])
|
||
if args.positive_samples <= positive_samples and \
|
||
prediction == args.positive_label and \
|
||
cur_prediction != args.positive_label:
|
||
cur_prediction = args.positive_label
|
||
has_change = True
|
||
logging.info(f'Positive sample threshold detected ({positive_samples}/{len(window)})')
|
||
elif args.positive_samples > positive_samples and \
|
||
prediction == args.negative_label and \
|
||
cur_prediction != args.negative_label:
|
||
cur_prediction = args.negative_label
|
||
has_change = True
|
||
logging.info(f'Negative sample threshold detected ({len(window)-positive_samples}/{len(window)})')
|
||
|
||
if has_change:
|
||
evt = CustomEvent(subtype=args.event_type, state=prediction)
|
||
bus.post(evt)
|
||
|
||
# Resume recording
|
||
source.resume()
|
||
|
||
|
||
if __name__ == '__main__':
|
||
main()
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
Save the script above as e.g. `~/bin/micmon_detect.py`. The script only triggers an event if at least `positive_samples`
|
||
samples are detected over a sliding window of `window_length` seconds (that’s to reduce the noise caused by prediction
|
||
errors or temporary glitches), and it only triggers an event when the current prediction goes from negative to positive
|
||
or the other way around. The event is then dispatched to Platypush over the `RedisBus`. The script should also be
|
||
general-purpose enough to work with any sound model (not necessarily that of a crying infant), any positive/negative
|
||
labels, any frequency range and any type of output event.
|
||
|
||
Let’s now create a Platypush hook to react on the event and send a notification to our devices. First, prepare the
|
||
Platypush scripts directory if it’s not been created already:
|
||
|
||
```shell
|
||
mkdir -p ~/.config/platypush/scripts
|
||
cd ~/.config/platypush/scripts
|
||
|
||
# Define the directory as a module
|
||
touch __init__.py
|
||
|
||
# Create a script for the baby-cry events
|
||
vi babymonitor.py
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
Content of `babymonitor.py`:
|
||
|
||
```python
|
||
from platypush.context import get_plugin
|
||
from platypush.event.hook import hook
|
||
from platypush.message.event.custom import CustomEvent
|
||
|
||
|
||
@hook(CustomEvent, subtype='baby-cry', state='positive')
|
||
def on_baby_cry_start(event, **_):
|
||
pb = get_plugin('pushbullet')
|
||
pb.send_note(title='Baby cry status', body='The baby is crying!')
|
||
|
||
|
||
@hook(CustomEvent, subtype='baby-cry', state='negative')
|
||
def on_baby_cry_stop(event, **_):
|
||
pb = get_plugin('pushbullet')
|
||
pb.send_note(title='Baby cry status', body='The baby stopped crying - good job!')
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
Now create a service file for Platypush if it’s not present already and start/enable the service so it will
|
||
automatically restart on termination or reboot:
|
||
|
||
```shell
|
||
mkdir -p ~/.config/systemd/user
|
||
|
||
wget -O ~/.config/systemd/user/platypush.service \
|
||
https://git.platypush.tech/platypush/platypush/-/raw/master/examples/systemd/platypush.service
|
||
|
||
systemctl --user start platypush.service
|
||
systemctl --user enable platypush.service
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
And also create a service file for the baby monitor — e.g. `~/.config/systemd/user/babymonitor.service`:
|
||
|
||
```yaml
|
||
[Unit]
|
||
Description=Monitor to detect my baby's cries
|
||
After=network.target sound.target
|
||
|
||
[Service]
|
||
ExecStart=/home/pi/bin/micmon_detect.py -i plughw:2,0 -e baby-cry -w 10 -n 2 ~/models/sound-detect
|
||
Restart=always
|
||
RestartSec=10
|
||
|
||
[Install]
|
||
WantedBy=default.target
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
This service will start the microphone monitor on the ALSA device plughw:2,0and it will fire a baby-cry event with
|
||
state=positive if at least 2 positive 2-second samples have been detected over the past 10 seconds and the previous
|
||
state was negative, and state=negative if less than 2 positive samples were detected over the past 10 seconds and the
|
||
previous state was positive. We can then start/enable the service:
|
||
|
||
```shell
|
||
systemctl --user start babymonitor.service
|
||
systemctl --user enable babymonitor.service
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
Verify that as soon as the baby starts crying you receive a notification on your phone. If you don’t you may other
|
||
review the labels you applied to your audio samples, the architecture and parameters of your neural network, or the
|
||
sample length/window/frequency band parameters.
|
||
|
||
Also, consider that this is a relatively basic example of automation — feel free to spice it up with more automation
|
||
tasks. For example, you can send a request to another Platypush device (e.g. in your bedroom or living room) with the
|
||
[`tts`](https://docs.platypush.tech/en/latest/platypush/plugins/tts.html) plugin to say aloud that the baby is crying. You can also extend the `micmon_detect.py` script so that the captured
|
||
audio samples can also be streamed over HTTP — for example using a Flask wrapper and `ffmpeg` for the audio conversion.
|
||
Another interesting use case is to send data points to your local database when the baby starts/stops crying (you can
|
||
refer to my previous article on how to use Platypush+PostgreSQL+Mosquitto+Grafana to create your flexible and
|
||
self-managed dashboards): it’s a useful set of data to track when your baby sleeps, is awake or needs feeding. And,
|
||
again, monitoring my baby has been the main motivation behind developing micmon, but the exact same procedure can be
|
||
used to train and use models to detect any type of sound. Finally, you may consider using a good power bank or a pack of
|
||
lithium batteries to make your sound monitor mobile.
|
||
|
||
## Baby camera
|
||
|
||
Once you have a good audio feed and a way to detect when a positive audio sequence starts/stops, you may want to add a
|
||
video feed to keep an eye on your baby. While in my first set up I had mounted a PiCamera on the same RaspberryPi 3 I
|
||
used for the audio detection, I found this configuration quite unpractical. A RaspberryPi 3 sitting in its case, with an
|
||
attached pack of batteries and a camera somehow glued on top can be quite bulky if you’re looking for a light camera
|
||
that you can easily install on a stand or flexible arm and you can move around to keep an eye on your baby wherever
|
||
he/she is. I have eventually opted for a smaller RaspberryPi Zero with a PiCamera compatible case and a small power
|
||
bank.
|
||
|
||
![RaspberryPi Zero + PiCamera setup](../img/baby-2.jpg)
|
||
|
||
Like on the other device, plug an SD card with a RaspberryPi-compatible OS. Then plug a RaspberryPi-compatible camera in
|
||
its slot, make sure that the camera module is enabled in `raspi-config` and install Platypush with the PiCamera
|
||
integration:
|
||
|
||
```shell
|
||
[sudo] pip3 install 'platypush[http,camera,picamera]'
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
Then add the camera configuration in `~/.config/platypush/config.yaml`:
|
||
|
||
```yaml
|
||
camera.pi:
|
||
# Listen port for TCP/H264 video feed
|
||
listen_port: 5001
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
You can already check this configuration on Platypush restart and get snapshots from the camera over HTTP:
|
||
|
||
```shell
|
||
wget http://raspberry-pi:8008/camera/pi/photo.jpg
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
Or open the video feed in your browser:
|
||
|
||
```shell
|
||
http://raspberry-pi:8008/camera/pi/video.mjpg
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
Or you can create a hook that starts streaming the camera feed over TCP/H264 when the application starts:
|
||
|
||
```shell
|
||
mkdir -p ~/.config/platypush/scripts
|
||
cd ~/.config/platypush/scripts
|
||
touch __init__.py
|
||
vi camera.py
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
Content of camera.py:
|
||
|
||
```python
|
||
from platypush.context import get_plugin
|
||
from platypush.event.hook import hook
|
||
from platypush.message.event.application import ApplicationStartedEvent
|
||
|
||
|
||
@hook(ApplicationStartedEvent)
|
||
def on_application_started(event, **_):
|
||
cam = get_plugin('camera.pi')
|
||
cam.start_streaming()
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
You will be able to play the feed in e.g. VLC:
|
||
|
||
```
|
||
vlc tcp/h264://raspberry-pi:5001
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
Or on your phone either through the VLC app or apps
|
||
like [RPi Camera Viewer](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ca.frozen.rpicameraviewer&hl=en_US&gl=US).
|
||
|
||
## Audio monitor
|
||
|
||
The last step is to set up a direct microphone stream from your baby’s RaspberryPi to whichever client you may want to
|
||
use. The Tensorflow model is good to nudge you when the baby is crying, but we all know that machine learning models
|
||
aren’t exactly notorious for achieving 100% accuracy. Some time you may simply be sitting in another room and want to
|
||
hear what’s happening in your baby’s room.
|
||
|
||
I have made a tool/library for purpose called [`micstream`](https://github.com/BlackLight/micstream/) — it can actually
|
||
be used in any situation where you want to set up an audio feed from a microphone over HTTP/mp3. Note: if you use a
|
||
microphone to feed audio to the Tensorflow model, then you’ll need another microphone for streaming.
|
||
|
||
Just clone the repository and install the software (the only dependency is the ffmpeg executable installed on the
|
||
system):
|
||
|
||
```shell
|
||
git clone https://github.com/BlackLight/micstream.git
|
||
cd micstream
|
||
[sudo] python3 setup.py install
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
You can get a full list of the available options with `micstream --help`. For example, if you want to set up streaming
|
||
on the 3rd audio input device (use `arecord -l` to get the full list), on the `/baby.mp3` endpoint, listening on port
|
||
8088 and with 96 kbps bitrate, then the command will be:
|
||
|
||
```shell
|
||
micstream -i plughw:3,0 -e '/baby.mp3' -b 96 -p 8088
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
You can now simply open `http://your-rpi:8088/baby.mp3` from any browser or audio player and you’ll have a real-time
|
||
audio feed from the baby monitor.
|