This Device Translates Speech Into Morse Code Messages

Morse code, which forms letters using a series of dots and dashes, was integral to the start of radio and landline-based communications. While less important now, it’s a fun challenge, and could still be useful in a number of situations. Pat Dhens decided to take things several steps further, meshing old and new technology to form a voice-to-Morse code device.

The setup uses a Raspberry Pi Zero and a Google AIY Voice Bonnet for processing. It receives speech from the user, then translates this into the appropriate dots and dashes for output. As shown in the video below, an activate button starts the process and the user then speaks the message to be “codified.” Dots and dashes are transmitted via a relay, and in this case interpreted by a computer.

The clips show it keying in the code at 20 and 12 WPM. Although slower than you can probably type, the device allows this form of communication without having to actually learn Morse. The real beauty of the translator would of course be sending it out over the airwaves, not simply to a receiving computer. For that, you'll need to obtain a proper license, which could be a worthy pursuit in itself. More explanation and Python code is found in Dhens' WhiskeyTangoHotel write-up.