ARC Voice Recognition

PRO

DJ Sures

Canada

Asked Feb 2011 — Edited Oct 2011

As of version 2011.02.28.00 of EZ-Builder, voice recognition has been implemented and works in Windows Vista and Windows 7. It will not work in Windows XP, although we are investigating how to make it happen.

Each phrase can be user defined. And for each phrase, there is a corresponding script command. The Config window displays all available commands. The script commands are the same as the scripting engine.

The Voice Recognition Control will listen to your Default Audio Device. You will need to verify a default audio device is selected by visiting the Control Panel -> Sound and checking the Recording tab.

Download the latest ARC here

Upgrade to ARC Pro

ARC Early Access will give you immediate updates and new features needed to unleash your robot's potential!

Compare Pro Features View Subscription Plans

Jeremie

PRO

Canada

#1 Feb 2011

Nice work DJ! Voice recognition in ARC is gonna be sweet, I just hope you can get it working in XP (yeah I'm still living in the past).

I may be tempted to upgrade my OS because of this new feature!

jamerperson

USA

#2 Jul 2011

I am starting to create my own project and am curious how exactly do you run the command for facial tracking from the voice recognition tab? (for example, "wall-e fallow my face")

DJ Sures

PRO

Synthiam

#3 Jul 2011

You can download the Wall-e ARC project on his webpage under Robots on the top menu

And I have a script called "followFace"...

Code:

controlcommand("camera", cameraservotrackenable)
controlcommand("camera", cameramovementtrackdisable)

controlcommand("camera", camerafacetracking)

And "followColor"

Code:

controlcommand("camera", cameraservotrackenable)
controlcommand("camera", cameramovementtrackdisable)

controlcommand("camera", cameracolortracking)

And "dance"

Code:

controlcommand("soundboard", track_7)

# forward
servo(d8, 6)
servo(d9, 30)
servo(d7, 29)
forward()
sleep(1000)

servo(d6, 25)
servo(d8, 6)
servo(d9, 19)
left(500)
servo(d6, 15)
servo(d8, 19)
servo(d9, 30)
right(1000)
servo(d6, 25)
servo(d8, 6)
servo(d9, 19)
left(1000)
servo(d6, 20)
servo(d8, 6)
servo(d9, 30)
right(500)

# reverse
reverse()
servo(d8, 6)
servo(d9, 30)
servo(d7, 15)
sleep(1000)

servo(d6, 25)
servo(d8, 6)
servo(d9, 19)
left(500)
servo(d6, 15)
servo(d8, 19)
servo(d9, 30)
right(1000)
servo(d6, 25)
servo(d8, 6)
servo(d9, 19)
left(1000)
servo(d6, 20)
servo(d8, 6)
servo(d9, 30)
right(500)

# forward
servo(d8, 6)
servo(d9, 30)
servo(d7, 29)
forward()
sleep(1000)

servo(d6, 25)
servo(d8, 6)
servo(d9, 19)
left(500)
servo(d6, 15)
servo(d8, 19)
servo(d9, 30)
right(1000)
servo(d6, 25)
servo(d8, 6)
servo(d9, 19)
left(1000)
servo(d6, 20)
servo(d8, 6)
servo(d9, 30)
right(500)

# reverse
reverse()
servo(d8, 6)
servo(d9, 30)
servo(d7, 15)
sleep(1000)

servo(d7, 23)

stop()

servo(d8, 27)
servo(d9, 11)
controlcommand("soundboard", track_4)
sleep(1000)
servo(d8, 6)
servo(d9, 30)

and "chaseColor"

Code:

controlcommand("camera", cameraservotrackdisable)
controlcommand("camera", cameramovementtrackenable)

controlcommand("camera", cameracolortracking)

jamerperson

USA

#4 Aug 2011

Thank you very much! I am not very good at coding (I'm more of a hardware guy). This coding will be mighty helpful I will post a start to finish video once i am done with my robot. first thing's first, i have to save up enough money to buy the ezb. not easy on a college student budget. I am just so exited to start that I have already started the programming before i even have any parts!

radmeck

USA

#5 Aug 2011

Mmmmmmmmmmm boy!

DJ Sures

PRO

Synthiam

#6 Aug 2011

I do wish I could lower the price. But after you add up the components, bluetooth module, microchip, pcb, assembly, regulators, battery adapter, assembly, shipping, website hosting, etc... It's not cheap

Some ppl email and ask why it's so expensive. I don't understand that question. For $99 you get a complete software and hardware solution. It has taken 2 years to create. 2000+ hours.

radmeck

USA

#7 Aug 2011

Was going to make a smart-a@# (tongue-in-cheek) comment but I will restrain myself and simply say 'Well put!' Now get off your duff and make me an EZ-B v4 Nitro with arc-reactor support!

DJ Sures

PRO

Synthiam

#8 Aug 2011

EZ-B v4 will have a neural connection

Bookmaker

USA

#9 Aug 2011

Have you had any luck getting the voice recognition to work with XP?

DJ Sures

PRO

Synthiam

#10 Aug 2011

XP does not contain the speech recognition engine. You can install it by following these directions: How to install and configure speech recognition in Windows XP

I have never tried it, but i hear it works!

Bookmaker

USA

#11 Aug 2011

That is great DJ. You just made my day. Do you know if this will work with the speach synthesis as well?

Bookmaker

USA

#12 Aug 2011

It works GREAT DJ. Thanks a bunch.

DJ Sures

PRO

Synthiam

#13 Aug 2011

That's awesome to hear! I'll add that link to the Tutorial

Jeremie

PRO

Canada

#14 Aug 2011

So I installed the Speech Recognition in WinXP but I haven't been getting good results, I've tried a USB and a regular 3.5mm jack Microphone but still seem to be getting the same error:

"Voice recognition was not able to start. There is either no listening device or the your operating system is not supported"

Anyone have any suggestions or has anyone experienced this?

I can confirm that under the Control Panel -> Speech that both Microphones were getting picked up and working on the audio level bar.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Gunny

Australia

#15 Aug 2011

I'm using windows 7 but had error I think was the same. In area were you see sound devices and such(haven't used xp in while) just check you have something selected as the default device. For me I just right clicked the mic I had plugged in and just clicked "set as default device" as soon as I did that, started up ez-b and was working!

Jeremie

PRO

Canada

#16 Aug 2011

Thanks for the reply Gunny!

Well I did try what you said and set my mic up as the default device using the control panel and configured the mic and all that good stuff.

I was also able to get voice recognition working in Wordpad I just had to click on my mic icon in the lower right taskbar and then hit the Diction icon as well.

I then was pumped that it was all working and went again to try it in ARC but had the same result, the same error listed above. I was able to get speech synthesis working though which I believe also gets installed at the same time you install the voice recognition software.

I was getting the computer to call me "Master!" on Joystick button presses, quite funny, but I'm still stuck on getting the Voice recognition to work in XP.

Anyone else had any luck with Voice/speech recognition in WinXP???

Bookmaker

USA

#17 Sep 2011

I am getting the same error code "Voice recognition was not able to start. There is either no listening device or your operating system is not supported" DJ, have you had any luck finding a solution. It appears even though we have windows voice recognition installed EZ-B does not like XP.

Bookmaker

USA

#18 Sep 2011

DJ,
Is there a chance that there may be a solution to the XP compatibility issue with voice recognition?

DJ Sures

PRO

Synthiam

#19 Oct 2011

I can take a look in my XP virtual machine. I dont' know how much time i'd spend on it because XP is pretty much depricated

Win7 is pretty decent on all sorts of hardware these days

Unless you're hardware is 5 years old haha

Bookmaker

USA

#20 Oct 2011

Any time spent will be greatly appreciated by alot of us "behinders". Major thanks in advance from the bookkmaker.

Jeremie

PRO

Canada

#21 Oct 2011

Yeah I'd greatly appreciate as well, as all the software I own has been purchased for XP and it'll take some time to move up to Windows 7 (financially speaking). Personally I think many businesses and individuals will be using XP for the next couple years until they are forced from it.

Here's a plus: Native WinXP can run off CF cards (233X speed and higher recommended), I know because I have a small form factor PC doing that very thing. As storage technology improves we should be able to boot XP off microSD cards without much lag and run windows on very small devices which gives us the ability to use ARC on-board our robots (as some are already doing)!!! I'm sure you already saw where I was going with that

Please don't discount XP as it can run on as little 4GB of storage, and that's without optimization. So I can see all the higher end electronics (laptops, PCs, etc) will move to Win7 and higher versions, but on the horizon we'll probably be seeing smaller form factor electronics (cell phones, tiny netbooks, etc.) running native XP.