Buzz and Chase: Robots Reacting to Sound Frequency

This project is about creating a communication sound language through frequencies for orientation in a space.

Different senses can define orientation in a space. We are used to rely on sight, but what are we going to do in darkness?

Hearing!

We can rely on hearing to go towards the sound.

But also what if we create a language through sound where every sound frequency means a special movement?

We made 2 robots whose movements are defined by sound differently.

Buzz (with red light) uses sound orientation language which we are playing to him to control his movements.

Chase (with green light) has a specific sound channel that it follows.

This project is done in a seminar (Computational Design and Digital Fabrication) in ITECH M.Sc. program at the university of Stuttgart.

Project by:

Alfiia Shakurianova | Jack Otto | Pouria Shahhoseini Nia

Electronics:

• 1. Arduino microcontroller (we used Arduino uno) x2
• 2. BreadBoard x2
• 3. DC Motor x4
• 4. Wheels (4)
• 5. L298N Motor Driver x2
• 6. 9V Battery x2
• 7. Electret Microphone KY-037 x3
• 8. LED 5 mm (use different colors) x2
• 9. 220 ohm resistor x2
• 10. Jumper wires
• 11. Wireless speaker

Robots Bodies:

1. Styrofoam
2. Stationery knife
3. Screws
4. Screwdriver
5. Glue/Elastic

The first robot named Buzz listens to environmental sounds and moves according to 3 frequency ranges, each of them representing a particular movement (move forward, turn left, turn right)

It also plays an additional frequency for the second robot.

So the Second robot Chase listens to it, defines its location, and moves towards the sound.

Using this logic we control the movements of the first robot by using different frequencies as language commands for defining the type of its movements and the second robot is trying to chase the first one.

Buzz and Chase use the Arduino FFT library to separate the analog input from his microphone into different frequencies. Depending on which frequency range is dominant, buzz behaves differently.

The explanation of the code of the robot Chase is similar to Buzz and is explained in the attached pdf. Please read the comments to avoid any errors.

You need to make 2 Bodies.

They can be made from Styrofoam.

They consist of 2 forms: 

1. Base with a place for breadboard.

2. Bottom part with place for battery and motors.

Arduino and Model driver are being inserted from the sides.

Robot1_Buzz

1. Add a bridge for the Speaker and a frame for balance.
2. Add the speaker and place a microphone and LED on it.

Robot2_Chase

1. Add a frame for a balance.
2. Add a cap and insert microphones in it.
3. Add a division between microphones and ear-shaped forms for acoustic capturing.

You can see the final results in the images.

Upload code to robots, and test microphones. Adjust the sensitivity as you need for your project by rotating this element on the sensor. You may need to adjust the potentiometer of the microphone sensor to change its sensitivity. Turn it clockwise to increase sensitivity.