A number of months again, I shared my experiments with sending voice messages over Meshtastic networks. That venture obtained a number of consideration and confirmed me simply how keen the neighborhood is to push these mesh units past their conventional boundaries. At the moment, I am sharing one thing new: a whole AI bot system that brings GPT-powered responses on to your mesh community.
What We’re Constructing
This AI bot turns any Meshtastic node with web entry into an clever hub on your whole mesh community. Anybody on the community can ask questions by sending messages with a command prefix (like “!”), and the bot responds with AI-generated solutions. Consider it as giving your mesh community a mind.
The use circumstances are fairly compelling:
- Emergency conditions the place you want immediate medical or survival recommendation
- Distant expeditions the place figuring out crops, climate patterns, or troubleshooting gear issues
- Technical help for area operations
- Academic purposes for out of doors teams
- Basic information entry while you’re off-grid however nonetheless linked to your mesh
Not like different AI implementations I’ve seen that use complicated MQTT routing or attempt to run fashions offline (which requires critical {hardware}), this strategy is refreshingly easy: one node with web entry serves the whole mesh.
Understanding the Structure
The system works on a hub-and-spoke mannequin:
The Hub Node (AI Bot):
- Related to each the mesh community and the web
- Runs Python software with GUI interface
- Processes incoming instructions and queries OpenAI’s API
- Manages response size to suit Meshtastic’s limitations
- Broadcasts solutions again to the mesh
Mesh Community Contributors:
- Ship queries utilizing command prefix (default: “!”)
- Obtain AI responses as common textual content messages
- No particular software program or configuration required
- Works with any Meshtastic system
The wonder is that just one node wants web entry and the bot software program. Everybody else simply makes use of their units usually.
Stipulations and Necessities
Earlier than we dive into the construct, this is what you may want:
{Hardware}:
- At the very least one Meshtastic system (T-Beam, Heltec, LilyGo, and so forth.)
- USB cable for system connection
- Laptop with Home windows, Mac, or Linux
- Web connection for the bot node
Software program:
- Python 3.7 or newer
- OpenAI API key (paid account beneficial for reliability)
- Required Python libraries (detailed beneath)
Community Setup:
- Functioning Meshtastic mesh community
- At the very least one different system to check with
Set up and Setup
Let’s get this factor operating. I am going to stroll you thru each step.
Step 1: Clone the Repository
git clone https://github.com/TelemetryHarbor/meshtastic-ai-bot.git
cd meshtastic-ai-bot
Step 2: Set up Python Dependencies
The bot requires a number of Python packages. Set up them with:
pip set up -r necessities.txt
If you happen to’re on Linux, you would possibly want to put in tkinter individually:
sudo apt-get set up python3-tk
Step 3: {Hardware} Connection
Join your Meshtastic system to your pc through USB. Be sure it is correctly configured and linked to your mesh community. You possibly can confirm this utilizing the Meshtastic CLI or cell app earlier than continuing.
Step 4: Get Your OpenAI API Key
Head to OpenAI’s web site and create an account if you do not have one. You will must:
- Go to the API part
- Create a brand new API key
- Add some credit to your account (the bot makes use of GPT-4o-mini, which could be very low cost)
Maintain this API key useful – you may want it within the subsequent step.
Step 5: Launch the Software
Run the bot with:
python meshtastic_ai_bot.py
It is best to see a GUI window with a number of sections for configuration.
Configuration Walkthrough
The interface is organized into logical sections. Let me stroll you thru every one:
Connection Settings
COM Port Choice: Click on the refresh button (⟳) to scan for out there ports. Your Meshtastic system ought to seem within the dropdown. Choose it and click on “Join.”
The log will present connection standing:
[2025-01-15 10:30:15] Connecting to Meshtastic system on COM3...
[2025-01-15 10:30:16] Related to Meshtastic system efficiently
[2025-01-15 10:30:16] Related to node: 123456789
AI Settings
OpenAI API Key: Paste your API key right here. The sector is masked for safety, however the hot button is saved in reminiscence whereas the app runs.
Command Prefix: Set the character that triggers AI responses. Default is “!” however you should use any character. For instance:
- “!When is the sundown?”
- “?How do I deal with a sprain?”
- “@Inform me about native wildlife”
Max Response Size: Meshtastic has a ~240 character restrict for textual content messages. I like to recommend maintaining this at 200 to be secure. The bot robotically truncates longer responses.
As soon as configured, click on “Allow AI” to activate the OpenAI connection.
Bot Controls
Bot Standing: Reveals whether or not the bot is actively listening for instructions.
Begin/Cease Bot: As soon as linked to each Meshtastic and OpenAI, click on “Begin Bot” to start listening for instructions on the mesh community.
Ship Check Message: Helpful for verifying your setup works earlier than going reside.
The way to Use the Bot
As soon as all the pieces is configured and operating, utilizing the bot is simple:
For Bot Operators
- Guarantee your system is linked and the bot reveals “Energetic”
- Monitor the log for incoming queries and responses
- The system handles all the pieces robotically
- You possibly can cease/begin the bot as wanted
For Mesh Community Customers
Ship any message beginning together with your configured prefix:
!How do I begin a fireplace in moist circumstances?
!What's 150 kilometers in miles?
!Determine signs of altitude illness
!Greatest option to purify water from streams?
The AI will reply with concise, related solutions:
AI: Begin hearth in moist circumstances: 1) Discover dry tinder inside useless branches 2) Construct platform of dry logs 3) Use birch bark/fatwood 4) Create windbreak 5) Begin small, construct steadily. Carry dry tinder in waterproof container.
Understanding the Technical Implementation
Let me break down how this truly works below the hood.
Message Processing Circulate
- Incoming Message Detection: The bot subscribes to Meshtastic’s message occasions utilizing the pubsub library. Each textual content message will get processed by way of the
on_receivetechnique. - Command Recognition: Messages are checked for the command prefix. If discovered, the prefix is stripped and the remaining textual content turns into the question.
- Response Formatting: The AI response is truncated if vital and despatched again to the mesh community utilizing
interface.sendText(). - Broadcast Distribution: Meshtastic handles distributing the response to all nodes within the community.
AI Processing: The question will get despatched to OpenAI with a system immediate that emphasizes brevity:
system_prompt = f"""You're a useful assistant responding through Meshtastic radio community.
Your response MUST be below {self.max_response_length} characters. Be concise and useful.
If the question requires an extended reply, present crucial data first."""
Error Dealing with
The system contains a number of layers of error dealing with:
- Connection failures: Bot stops gracefully if Meshtastic disconnects
- API errors: Sends error messages again to the community
- Price limiting: Constructed-in delays stop API abuse
- Message deduplication: Prevents processing the identical message twice
Efficiency Concerns
API Prices: GPT-4o-mini could be very reasonably priced. Typical queries value fractions of a penny. Even heavy utilization ought to value below $5/month.
Response Time: Most queries full in 2-5 seconds, relying on web connection and API response time.
Community Impression: Every AI response is a single textual content message, so community impression is minimal in comparison with my voice messaging experiments.
Superior Configuration
Customizing Response Habits
You possibly can modify the system immediate within the code to vary how the AI responds:
system_prompt = f"""You're a survival knowledgeable responding through radio.
Responses have to be below {self.max_response_length} characters.
Prioritize security and sensible recommendation."""
Logging and Monitoring
The applying logs all exercise to the GUI and might be prolonged to log to recordsdata:
[2025-01-15 10:35:22] Obtained message from 987654321: !The way to deal with burns?
[2025-01-15 10:35:24] AI Response (156 chars): For burns: 1) Cool with water 10-20 minutes 2) Take away jewellery/clothes 3) Do not use ice/butter 4) Cowl with clear material 5) Search assist for extreme burns
[2025-01-15 10:35:25] Message despatched efficiently
Troubleshooting Frequent Points
“No COM ports discovered”
- Verify USB connection
- Set up Meshtastic system drivers
- Strive totally different USB cable/port
- Confirm system is powered on
“Failed to connect with OpenAI API”
- Confirm API key’s right
- Verify web connection
- Guarantee API account has credit
- Strive regenerating API key
“Messages not being acquired”
- Confirm mesh community connectivity
- Verify if different units can talk
- Guarantee bot is definitely began (not simply linked)
- Strive sending take a look at message first
“Responses too lengthy”
- Cut back max response size setting
- AI typically ignores size constraints with complicated queries
- Contemplate splitting complicated questions into components
Limitations and Concerns
Let’s be real looking about what this method can and might’t do:
Community Dependencies:
- Bot node requires web entry
- If web fails, AI performance stops
- Mesh community itself continues working usually
- For now it really works solely on the general public channel
Response High quality:
- Restricted to ~200 characters means easy solutions solely
- No reminiscence applied but, so comply with up questions will not work. (Open PR if you happen to prefer to contrbute)
- AI can sometimes give incorrect data
Efficiency:
- Response time will depend on web pace
- API charge limits may trigger delays with heavy utilization
Value:
- Requires paid OpenAI account
- Utilization prices scale with question quantity
- Monitor API utilization to keep away from surprises
Actual-World Functions
Mountain climbing Teams: Hikers can ask about path circumstances, climate, first assist, or plant identification with out leaving the mesh community.
Emergency Response: Throughout coaching workouts, groups use the bot for fast protocol lookups, remedy dosages, or technical procedures with out breaking radio self-discipline.
Academic Expeditions: College students can ask questions on geology, biology, or native historical past whereas sustaining communication by way of Meshtastic units.
Technical Discipline Work: Engineers and technicians get immediate entry to specs, troubleshooting steps, or calculation instruments whereas working in distant places.
Future Enhancements
That is only the start. Listed here are some enhancements we are able to work on:
Multi-Mannequin Assist: Add help for various AI fashions or specialised APIs and power calling functionality (climate, identification, and so forth.)
Message Threading (Historical past): Enable follow-up questions that reference earlier context.
Response Caching: Retailer widespread questions domestically to cut back API calls and enhance response time.
Precedence Queuing: Deal with emergency queries quicker than common questions.
Integration Enhancements: Higher integration with Meshtastic’s node administration and routing options. Possibly in app help too like MQTT?
Conclusion
This venture is a pleasant step towards bringing AI into the Meshtastic ecosystem, bridging the hole very similar to the MQTT characteristic already does. It additionally reveals how mod-friendly and extensible the community actually is opening the door for different concepts like climate information relays, translation bots, offline information packs, and even native ML fashions for sign evaluation. Options like MQTT and AI are only the start, they usually trace at how rather more we are able to deliver into the mesh sooner or later.
