Overview
This VUI partner-enabled solution is based on the RA family of 32-bit MCUs. Renesas uses this hardware platform for VUI partner-enabled solutions provided through the Renesas Partner Network. It shows how easy it is to control your system with a simple voice-command interface, without extensive coding experience or in-house expertise.
With the powerful RA8M1 MCU, you will build an enhanced working solution to recognize and execute your own voice commands and can deploy the Natural Language Understanding (NLU) model in a complete end-to-end AI/ML Voice solution.
Features
- Hardware Features:
- Complete solution with accessories included to jumpstart development
- Based on RA8M1 480MHz Arm® Cortex®-M85 MCU
- Connectivity:
- 1 x USB micro AB FS for main MCU
- SEGGER J-Link® OB interface
- 1x Pmod™ connector and 1x auxiliary port
- 2x MEMS AMIC and 2x MEMS DMIC, 6 additional MEMS DMIC on microphone board
- 1x stereo audio headphone jack (mono output on both channels per main board and microphone board)
- On-board debug interface for JTAG or SWD debug port
- Software Features:
- Includes cloud-based development tools DSpotter or DSpotterNLU from Renesas Ready ecosystem partner, Cyberon
- User's manual, quick start guide, etc. are available
Applications
AI Voice
VK-RA8M1 Voice User Demonstration Board - Top
Design Files & Documentation
Loading
Log in required to subscribe
- Quick Start GuidePower your VK-RA8M1 with NLU (Natural Language Understanding) with this quick start guide and its associated sample project.
- Quick Start GuideThe quick start guide and project file for VK‑RA8M1 guides developers to evaluate the voice AI application example combo of Voice Anti-Spoofing (VAS), Voice Command Recognition (VCR), and Speaker ID (SID).
- Quick Start GuideThe quick start guide and project file for VK‑RA8M1 guides developers to evaluate the voice AI application example combo of Voice Anti-Spoofing (VAS) and Voice Command Recognition (VCR).
- Quick Start GuideThe quick start guide and project file for the VK‑RA8M1 guides developers to evaluate the voice AI application example combo of Audio Processing Front (APF), Natural Language Understanding (NLU), Voice Anti-Spoofing (VAS), and Speaker Verification (CNSV).
- PCB Design Files
- Brochure
- Manual - Development Tools
- Quick Start Guide
- PCB Design Files
- Quick Start Guide
Recommended Documents (2)
No Results Found.
Check Spelling
Make sure all keywords are spelled correctly.
Make sure all keywords are spelled correctly.
Adjust Keywords
Try fewer, different, or more general terms to vary your search.
Try fewer, different, or more general terms to vary your search.
Review Filters
If you have filters applied, consider deselecting some to broaden your results.
If you have filters applied, consider deselecting some to broaden your results.
Need help?
- Search our extensive knowledgebase, designed to help customers with their FAQs.
- Get help from our expert Renesas technical staff and community on our support forums.
- Quick Start GuidePower your VK-RA8M1 with NLU (Natural Language Understanding) with this quick start guide and its associated sample project.
- Quick Start GuideThe quick start guide and project file for VK‑RA8M1 guides developers to evaluate the voice AI application example combo of Voice Anti-Spoofing (VAS), Voice Command Recognition (VCR), and Speaker ID (SID).
- Quick Start GuideThe quick start guide and project file for VK‑RA8M1 guides developers to evaluate the voice AI application example combo of Voice Anti-Spoofing (VAS) and Voice Command Recognition (VCR).
- Quick Start GuideThe quick start guide and project file for the VK‑RA8M1 guides developers to evaluate the voice AI application example combo of Audio Processing Front (APF), Natural Language Understanding (NLU), Voice Anti-Spoofing (VAS), and Speaker Verification (CNSV).
- View More
Manuals & Guides (8)
No Results Found.
Check Spelling
Make sure all keywords are spelled correctly.
Make sure all keywords are spelled correctly.
Adjust Keywords
Try fewer, different, or more general terms to vary your search.
Try fewer, different, or more general terms to vary your search.
Review Filters
If you have filters applied, consider deselecting some to broaden your results.
If you have filters applied, consider deselecting some to broaden your results.
Need help?
- Search our extensive knowledgebase, designed to help customers with their FAQs.
- Get help from our expert Renesas technical staff and community on our support forums.
No Results Found.
Check Spelling
Make sure all keywords are spelled correctly.
Make sure all keywords are spelled correctly.
Adjust Keywords
Try fewer, different, or more general terms to vary your search.
Try fewer, different, or more general terms to vary your search.
Review Filters
If you have filters applied, consider deselecting some to broaden your results.
If you have filters applied, consider deselecting some to broaden your results.
Need help?
- Search our extensive knowledgebase, designed to help customers with their FAQs.
- Get help from our expert Renesas technical staff and community on our support forums.
No Results Found.
Check Spelling
Make sure all keywords are spelled correctly.
Make sure all keywords are spelled correctly.
Adjust Keywords
Try fewer, different, or more general terms to vary your search.
Try fewer, different, or more general terms to vary your search.
Review Filters
If you have filters applied, consider deselecting some to broaden your results.
If you have filters applied, consider deselecting some to broaden your results.
Need help?
- Search our extensive knowledgebase, designed to help customers with their FAQs.
- Get help from our expert Renesas technical staff and community on our support forums.
No Results Found.
Check Spelling
Make sure all keywords are spelled correctly.
Make sure all keywords are spelled correctly.
Adjust Keywords
Try fewer, different, or more general terms to vary your search.
Try fewer, different, or more general terms to vary your search.
Review Filters
If you have filters applied, consider deselecting some to broaden your results.
If you have filters applied, consider deselecting some to broaden your results.
Need help?
- Search our extensive knowledgebase, designed to help customers with their FAQs.
- Get help from our expert Renesas technical staff and community on our support forums.
- PCB Design Files
Schematics & Design Files (1)
No Results Found.
Check Spelling
Make sure all keywords are spelled correctly.
Make sure all keywords are spelled correctly.
Adjust Keywords
Try fewer, different, or more general terms to vary your search.
Try fewer, different, or more general terms to vary your search.
Review Filters
If you have filters applied, consider deselecting some to broaden your results.
If you have filters applied, consider deselecting some to broaden your results.
Need help?
- Search our extensive knowledgebase, designed to help customers with their FAQs.
- Get help from our expert Renesas technical staff and community on our support forums.
No Results Found.
Check Spelling
Make sure all keywords are spelled correctly.
Make sure all keywords are spelled correctly.
Adjust Keywords
Try fewer, different, or more general terms to vary your search.
Try fewer, different, or more general terms to vary your search.
Review Filters
If you have filters applied, consider deselecting some to broaden your results.
If you have filters applied, consider deselecting some to broaden your results.
Need help?
- Search our extensive knowledgebase, designed to help customers with their FAQs.
- Get help from our expert Renesas technical staff and community on our support forums.
No Results Found.
Check Spelling
Make sure all keywords are spelled correctly.
Make sure all keywords are spelled correctly.
Adjust Keywords
Try fewer, different, or more general terms to vary your search.
Try fewer, different, or more general terms to vary your search.
Review Filters
If you have filters applied, consider deselecting some to broaden your results.
If you have filters applied, consider deselecting some to broaden your results.
Need help?
- Search our extensive knowledgebase, designed to help customers with their FAQs.
- Get help from our expert Renesas technical staff and community on our support forums.
- Brochure
Marketing Collateral (4)
No Results Found.
Check Spelling
Make sure all keywords are spelled correctly.
Make sure all keywords are spelled correctly.
Adjust Keywords
Try fewer, different, or more general terms to vary your search.
Try fewer, different, or more general terms to vary your search.
Review Filters
If you have filters applied, consider deselecting some to broaden your results.
If you have filters applied, consider deselecting some to broaden your results.
Need help?
- Search our extensive knowledgebase, designed to help customers with their FAQs.
- Get help from our expert Renesas technical staff and community on our support forums.
No Results Found.
Check Spelling
Make sure all keywords are spelled correctly.
Make sure all keywords are spelled correctly.
Adjust Keywords
Try fewer, different, or more general terms to vary your search.
Try fewer, different, or more general terms to vary your search.
Review Filters
If you have filters applied, consider deselecting some to broaden your results.
If you have filters applied, consider deselecting some to broaden your results.
Need help?
- Search our extensive knowledgebase, designed to help customers with their FAQs.
- Get help from our expert Renesas technical staff and community on our support forums.
Software & Tools
Loading
Filters
Software & Tools
Filter by Type
Sample Code
Filter by Application
Filter by Function
Filter by Compiler
Filter by IDE
Partner Solutions
Software
Supporting content such as a Board Support Package (BSP) and Quick Setup Guide (QSG) are available from the Renesas Ready Solutions Repository on GitHub.
Tool
To use Cyberon’s DSpotterNLU modeling tool together with this kit, please fill in and submit the following form.
- Software PackageFSP is an enhanced software package designed to provide easy-to-use, scalable, high-quality software for embedded system designs using Renesas RA Family of Arm Microcontrollers. Note: FSP with e² studio Installer (Platform Installer) will install the e² studio tool, FSP packs, GCC toolchain, and Segger J-Link drivers required to use this software. No additional installations are required.
- Solution ToolkitReality AI Tools® users automatically explore sensor data and generate optimized models.
- Solution ToolkitRound-trip workflow for AI development and performance validation allowing to collect data, optimize models, and deploy directly to Renesas hardware
- PCB Design Files
- Sample CodePower your VK-RA8M1 with NLU (Natural Language Understanding) with this sample project.
- AIProvides local voice trigger and command recognition with robust noise reduction. Consumes very low resources while delivering high-accuracy performance. Runs on Renesas RA microcontroller unit (MCU) family, RX671, and RX72N, supporting multiple languages, connectivity functions, and security capabilities depending on the selected MCU. Enables offline operation without cloud connectivity for privacy and reliability.Provided By: Cyberon
- AIProvides local free speech control by combining speech recognition and natural language processing. Enables users to give natural and intuitive voice commands without memorizing specific terms. Supports developer tools for creating applications with simple text input, requiring no training data. Runs on Renesas RA8 microcontroller unit (MCU) platforms.Provided By: Cyberon
- AIProvides speaker identification on MCU platforms using a neural network (NN) model. Enables content-independent voice verification with low recognition error rates and high robustness. Supports multiple speaker identification depending on system resources. Runs on Renesas RA8M1 and RA6E1 MCU platforms.Provided By: Cyberon
- AILocal AI–based Spoken Language Understanding (SLU) model recognizes predefined key phrases with support for over 1 million phrases. Enables flexible grammar and vocabulary definition, allowing voice commands in varied formats to be accurately interpreted. Delivers 98%–99% accuracy with ~200 ms latency for fast, reliable response. Uses a customizable 400–600KB model. Runs on Cortex-M3, RISC-V, and low-power NPU. Robust in noisy and far-field conditions with low false triggers. Supports EN, CH, JP, and KR for appliances and wearables.Provided By: Aizip Inc.
No Results Found.
Check Spelling
Make sure all keywords are spelled correctly.
Make sure all keywords are spelled correctly.
Adjust Keywords
Try fewer, different, or more general terms to vary your search.
Try fewer, different, or more general terms to vary your search.
Review Filters
If you have filters applied, consider deselecting some to broaden your results.
If you have filters applied, consider deselecting some to broaden your results.
Need help?
- Search our extensive knowledgebase, designed to help customers with their FAQs.
- Get help from our expert Renesas technical staff and community on our support forums.
- Software PackageFSP is an enhanced software package designed to provide easy-to-use, scalable, high-quality software for embedded system designs using Renesas RA Family of Arm Microcontrollers. Note: FSP with e² studio Installer (Platform Installer) will install the e² studio tool, FSP packs, GCC toolchain, and Segger J-Link drivers required to use this software. No additional installations are required.
- Solution ToolkitReality AI Tools® users automatically explore sensor data and generate optimized models.
- Solution ToolkitRound-trip workflow for AI development and performance validation allowing to collect data, optimize models, and deploy directly to Renesas hardware
- PCB Design Files
Software & Tools (4)
- Sample CodePower your VK-RA8M1 with NLU (Natural Language Understanding) with this sample project.
Sample Code (4)
No Results Found.
Check Spelling
Make sure all keywords are spelled correctly.
Make sure all keywords are spelled correctly.
Adjust Keywords
Try fewer, different, or more general terms to vary your search.
Try fewer, different, or more general terms to vary your search.
Review Filters
If you have filters applied, consider deselecting some to broaden your results.
If you have filters applied, consider deselecting some to broaden your results.
Need help?
- Search our extensive knowledgebase, designed to help customers with their FAQs.
- Get help from our expert Renesas technical staff and community on our support forums.
- AIProvides local voice trigger and command recognition with robust noise reduction. Consumes very low resources while delivering high-accuracy performance. Runs on Renesas RA microcontroller unit (MCU) family, RX671, and RX72N, supporting multiple languages, connectivity functions, and security capabilities depending on the selected MCU. Enables offline operation without cloud connectivity for privacy and reliability.Provided By: Cyberon
- AIProvides local free speech control by combining speech recognition and natural language processing. Enables users to give natural and intuitive voice commands without memorizing specific terms. Supports developer tools for creating applications with simple text input, requiring no training data. Runs on Renesas RA8 microcontroller unit (MCU) platforms.Provided By: Cyberon
- AIProvides speaker identification on MCU platforms using a neural network (NN) model. Enables content-independent voice verification with low recognition error rates and high robustness. Supports multiple speaker identification depending on system resources. Runs on Renesas RA8M1 and RA6E1 MCU platforms.Provided By: Cyberon
- AILocal AI–based Spoken Language Understanding (SLU) model recognizes predefined key phrases with support for over 1 million phrases. Enables flexible grammar and vocabulary definition, allowing voice commands in varied formats to be accurately interpreted. Delivers 98%–99% accuracy with ~200 ms latency for fast, reliable response. Uses a customizable 400–600KB model. Runs on Cortex-M3, RISC-V, and low-power NPU. Robust in noisy and far-field conditions with low false triggers. Supports EN, CH, JP, and KR for appliances and wearables.Provided By: Aizip Inc.
Partner Solutions (4)
Sample & Buy
Application Block Diagrams
 | Edge Voice User Interface (VUI) Voice control with RA MCUs offers efficient, network-free voice recognition for smart devices. |
Videos & Training
The smart voice, no cloud solution is Renesas’ AI Voice Combo Solution powered by the VK-RA8M1 kit. It delivers advanced voice control without relying on cloud connectivity. The solution features APF for noise isolation, NLU for natural speech recognition, CNSV for speaker verification, and VAS for anti-spoofing. These capabilities enable secure and intuitive user interaction.
Additional Videos
News & Blog Posts
Blog Post Jan 29, 2025 |
Blog Post Jun 1, 2024 |
Resources
Support
Support Communities
- [vk-ra8m1] Request the the complete project bundle of Voice Command Recognition Demo (VCR) for vk-ra8m1
... ra8m1-ra8m1-voice-user-reference-kit Check the document quick start guide : https://www.renesas.com/en/document/qsg/vk-ra8m1-quick-start-guide?r=25556826 I want the the complete project bundle of Voice Command Recognition Demo (VCR). Could you help me to ...
Nov 8, 2024 - VK-RA8M1 - Project sources
Good morning, I purchased the VK-RA8M1 demo and, in order to evaluate its potential in Italian, etc., so I would need the complete source package. I read in the reference notes that it is necessary to send a request to [email protected], but I have not received a reply ...
Nov 18, 2025 - How do I assign .data or .bss to DTCM in e2 Studio for the VK-RA8M1?
I am trying to replicate the Renesas CoreMark scores for the VK-RA8M1 of 6.39 CoreMarks/MHz. It is indicated to obtain this result, that the data needs to reside in DTCM.How do I specify in e2 Studio that the .data (or .bss) should be linked into ...
Jul 2, 2025
Knowledge Base
- What is the difference between Voice Kit RA6/4/2 and VK-RA8M1?
VUI software solution perspective, the VK-RA8M1 can run either VCR (Voice Command Recognition) or NLU (Natural Language Understanding) which modeling tool are both provided by Cyberon. On the other hand, Voice Kit RA6/4/2 series supports VCR (Voice Command Recognition) from Cyberon. For hardware functionality difference ...
Jul 26, 2024 - Voice Kit with RA Family: What is included in the kit and any other components to prepare in addition?
... Ready ecosystem partner, Cyberon and you are complete to start the evaluation. Please check our web landing page for detail. RA8M1 Voice User Reference Kit (VK-RA8M1): https://www.renesas.com/us/en/products/microcontrollers-microprocessors/ra-cortex-m-mcus/vk-ra8m1 ...
Jul 26, 2024 - RA Family: Achieving Half DMA Transfer Interrupt with DMAC Repeat-Block Transfer
... 8000 (DMCRB) Destination address reload size: 16000 (DMDBS) Free-running: Yes (DMTMD.TKP) Implementation Example Below are the configuration settings of the example on the VK-RA8M1 board that captures analog microphone input through the ADC and outputs audio through the DAC. The Smart Configurator settings below highlight the DMA ...
Feb 5, 2026
Support Communities
Get quick technical support online from Renesas Engineering Community technical staff.
Knowledge Base
Browse our knowledge base for helpful articles, FAQs, and other useful resources.
