ITEE Innovation Expo 2008 : Project Details

IMPLEMENTING A ROBOT MUSICIAN

The interaction between musical composition and computer science has recently gained an increasing amount of focus in robotic research. Building a robot integrated with both electrical and mechanical features can effectively perform music through virtual instruments. Under such implement technology, a robot musician is able to achieve a high accuracy and offer the audience live-experience very similar to listening to a human performer. The aim of this project is to build a fingering system that can play an unmodified clarinet. The finished robot will compete against other robot musicians, organised by ARTEMIS Association. The design of the robotic clarinettist fingering involves both electrical and mechanical structures. In order to achieve the scope of pressing the register keys or covering the holes on a clarinet like a human player does, 15 push type solenoids are chosen and are implemented with effective electronic circuitry, including microprocessor and driver chips. With suitable software implementation, the expected performance was achieved without difficulties. The solenoids are held on two boards with the holes drilled at the desired positions respectively to a clarinet. One of the boards is located on the top of the clarinet and the other one underneath. Springs are attached to the solenoids to maintain the shafts in steady position while no current passing through the coil. On the edge of the solenoids, soft materials are supplied in different shapes, depending on whether they are used to cover the holes or press registers as well as minimising the mechanical noise. With the fingering system built along with the mouth piece. The robotic clarinet project is completed.