Robot 1.1 - Intelligent percussion system

Most musical robots systems focus simply on sound production (Mechanically reproducing a set of static instructions) and rarely address perceptual aspects of musicianship, such as listening, analysis, improvisation, or modification of human input.

Our project aims to create a device that "listens" to a human drummer and attempts to play along by hitting a ride cymbal.

We designed this system as educational and research device which makes use of interdisciplinary collaboration (drawing from Music, Computer Science, Engineering and Cognitive Psychology).

Analog microphone inputs from a human snare drum player are processed by a listening circuit, which converts the rough signal into two different usable signals. One is sent directly to the actuator, and serves as real-time 'asynchronous hardware control'. The other is sent to a microcontroller, which determines a 'synchronous software control' response.

The actuator itself is powered by a linear solenoid, which acts downward on a striker causing it to hit the cymbal. Great care was taken to determine the correct solenoid force, and to select an appropriate solenoid. Solenoid control requires controlling a large voltage with a smaller voltage, and we accomplished the task with an I/O module containing an optocoupler and transistors.

Designed and built by Mike Vance & Brit Cruise @ The University of Western Ontario

Contact us if interested - bcruise@uwo.ca

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• uwo
• science
• beat induction
• mechanics
• robotic musician
• robot
• artificial intelligence
• engineering
• psychology
• computer science

[fullmetalchemist34]

this holy bullshit

[brendonjc]

Damn cool guys.

[mumblejumble1]

cool

[arahag]

wow! Amazing idea and implementation!!