> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://visionagents.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# AWS Bedrock

[AWS Bedrock](https://aws.amazon.com/bedrock/) provides realtime speech-to-speech using Amazon Nova Sonic models with automatic session management. The plugin handles Nova's 8-minute connection limit transparently.

<Info>
  Vision Agents requires a [Stream](https://getstream.io/try-for-free/) account
  for real-time transport. Most providers offer free tiers to get started.
</Info>

<Warning>
  The AWS plugin requires **Python 3.12+**. Nova Sonic is **audio-only** — video
  parameters such as `fps` have no effect. For video agents, use [Gemini
  Realtime](/integrations/realtime/gemini) or a [custom
  pipeline](/introduction/voice-agents#custom-pipeline-mode).
</Warning>

## Installation

```sh theme={null}
uv add "vision-agents[aws,getstream]"
```

The quick start uses `getstream.Edge()`, so both extras are required.

## Environment Variables

```bash theme={null}
STREAM_API_KEY=...
STREAM_API_SECRET=...
AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID=...    # or IAM role / ~/.aws profile
AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY=...
```

You also need Bedrock **model access** enabled for Nova Sonic in your chosen region, and IAM permission for bidirectional streaming (`bedrock:InvokeModelWithBidirectionalStream`).

## Quick Start

```python theme={null}
from dotenv import load_dotenv

from vision_agents.core import Agent, AgentLauncher, Runner, User
from vision_agents.plugins import aws, getstream

load_dotenv()


async def create_agent(**kwargs) -> Agent:
    return Agent(
        edge=getstream.Edge(),
        agent_user=User(name="Assistant", id="agent"),
        instructions="You are a helpful voice assistant.",
        llm=aws.Realtime(),
    )


async def join_call(agent: Agent, call_type: str, call_id: str, **kwargs) -> None:
    call = await agent.create_call(call_type, call_id)
    async with agent.join(call):
        await agent.finish()


if __name__ == "__main__":
    Runner(AgentLauncher(create_agent=create_agent, join_call=join_call)).cli()
```

<Warning>
  AWS credentials are resolved via the standard AWS SDK chain (environment
  variables, AWS profiles via `aws_profile`, or IAM roles). The `aws.Realtime`
  constructor does not accept explicit access key parameters.
</Warning>

## Parameters

| Name                      | Type    | Default                      | Description                                                                                         |
| ------------------------- | ------- | ---------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `model`                   | `str`   | `"amazon.nova-2-sonic-v1:0"` | Nova model ID                                                                                       |
| `region_name`             | `str`   | `"us-east-1"`                | AWS region                                                                                          |
| `voice_id`                | `str`   | `"matthew"`                  | Voice ([available voices](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/nova/latest/userguide/available-voices.html)) |
| `reconnect_after_minutes` | `float` | `5.0`                        | Reconnect after this many minutes of connection age, when audio is idle                             |
| `aws_profile`             | `str`   | `None`                       | AWS profile name from `~/.aws/credentials` or `~/.aws/config`                                       |

## Nova Behavior

* **`instructions` are required** before the model accepts user input.
* **Text-only prompts may not produce audio** — use audio input for reliable responses.
* **Function calling** may require at least one audio content block before text tool calls work reliably.

## Automatic Reconnection

AWS Bedrock has an 8-minute connection limit. The plugin handles this automatically:

* After **5 minutes of connection age** (configurable via `reconnect_after_minutes`) **and more than 3 seconds since last audio activity**, reconnects during a quiet moment
* After **7 minutes of connection age**, forces reconnect regardless of audio activity

Last audio activity includes incoming user speech (detected by Silero VAD) and outgoing agent audio.

## Voice Activity Detection

The plugin uses Silero VAD to track **incoming user speech** for reconnection timing. Agent audio output updates activity separately. Silero warmup is handled automatically by the Agent lifecycle.

## Function Calling

Register tools on the LLM before the agent connects:

```python theme={null}
llm = aws.Realtime()

@llm.register_function(description="Get weather for a location")
async def get_weather(location: str) -> dict:
    return {"city": location, "temperature": 72, "condition": "Sunny"}

agent = Agent(..., llm=llm)
```

See the [Function Calling guide](/guides/mcp-tool-calling) for details.

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Build a Voice Agent" icon="microphone" href="/introduction/voice-agents">
    Get started with voice
  </Card>

  <Card title="Function Calling" icon="wrench" href="/guides/mcp-tool-calling">
    Tools and MCP integration
  </Card>
</CardGroup>