Animatronic Head
The main aim of this project is to build a Robot System that can essential perform the basic building blocks of Robot-to human interaction, with a focus on the way humans interact with each other through body language as opposed to speech. With this basic step implemented, it would then be possible to advance the project to have a higher level of Artificial Intelligence which will enable it to be effectively and efficiently used within the Education System as a teaching aid.
This basic building block is the simple movement of the head to face the direction of the sound, in this case it would be a human speaking to it, and although it does not have the ability to understand the words that are being spoken, to turn and ‘face’ the person speaking will show an acknowledgement that it is being interacted with, which is a fundamental action performed by humans during social interaction.
This project, with a working final outcome can be used in the Early Years of the Education System, as an aid to help children learn basic Social Development Skills, however, the project can be improved to a more advanced level, where it can then be used as a teaching aid in the Higher Levels of Education, with a focus on Children with Learning Difficulties.
This basic building block is the simple movement of the head to face the direction of the sound, in this case it would be a human speaking to it, and although it does not have the ability to understand the words that are being spoken, to turn and ‘face’ the person speaking will show an acknowledgement that it is being interacted with, which is a fundamental action performed by humans during social interaction.
This project, with a working final outcome can be used in the Early Years of the Education System, as an aid to help children learn basic Social Development Skills, however, the project can be improved to a more advanced level, where it can then be used as a teaching aid in the Higher Levels of Education, with a focus on Children with Learning Difficulties.
How this project works is by measuring the amplitude difference between the two signals being received form the microphone ‘ears’, depending on the outcome of the difference, the motor will move either left or right, the code will be in a loop, therefore constantly checking which signal is has the highest amplitude and continually turning in the correct direction until the amplitudes are almost the same where it will know it is facing the speaker.
Essentially this system is split into two main parts which deals with the Analogue signal inputs and the motor outputs. The system takes the two analogue signal inputs, finds the highest and then turns the motors in the correct direction.
Essentially this system is split into two main parts which deals with the Analogue signal inputs and the motor outputs. The system takes the two analogue signal inputs, finds the highest and then turns the motors in the correct direction.
The final working conclusion of the project was that the separate parts of the project worked. The motors, when tested with a set input via the code, not using the microphones as an input, the results were it worked as required. When input 1 was set as higher then input 2 the correct motor moved to the correct position, therefore facing the ‘person’ speaking, and vice versa with input 2. The analogue circuits, namely the amplifier circuit, worked correctly, it picked up the correct signal as the highest signal, showing the ability to pick up the correct direction, left or right. The problem arose however with the filter circuits leaving the comparator with difficulties in finding the highest signal, and when connected to the motors left the head ‘flickering’ between left and right. Therefore, the project outcome was not as desired but it was close.
The images below illustrate various aspects of the project. Please hover on the images for a description of the image.
The images below illustrate various aspects of the project. Please hover on the images for a description of the image.