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On Board Mini Itx And Sound Questions With Speech Recognition

Using a mini itx on board a robot keeps popping up in posts here and each time I see one I start thinking. I would really love to go this route. I'd like to have a mini itx mounted in my B9. That would make him almost completely stand alone. I only have a couple issues with this that maybe someone could help me think through and make a suggestion.

B9 is a very noisy robot. Lots of clicking and clacking. I actually have a soundtrack looping with mechanical noises like you heard on the TV show when he was on camera. That along with motor noise keeps the speech recognition from working if the microphone is mounted on the robot. I really need to keep the mic away from the robot. Does anyone know of a wireless adaptor my USB mic could use to communicate with an on board mini itx? Any other ideas short of running a cable out of the robot to a mic. Bluetooth maybe? I've tried searching the internet and really didn't come up with much.

Thanks, Dave Schulpius


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#1  
I have been leaning towards a wireless headset lately. In demos, the noises from people and servos sometimes fools the speech recognition into thinking a command was spoken. It does add character to the robot, but i'd like more control.

I also think a wireless headset is kind of cool to wear at demos. lol, yah i'm a nerd like that:) A wireless headset is pretty sci-fi!
#2  
I have a bunch of different Bluetooth headsets, and they all work reasonably well with the computer. The only issue is you need to define the BT as the default speech source, but not the default speaker destination so you can talk to the bot, but it talks through its speaker.

Process seems different with different headsets, so some experimentation needed.

(I haven't looked yet, can ARC select a specific sound card for speech in a system with multiple sound devices? that would make it easy...).

When I get my Steampunk K9 done, I am also going to decorate one of the headsets in Steampunk motif, so it will be a natural combination.

Alan
#3  
Good suggestion with the headset. I have also had trouble with EZ-B being fooled into action with lots of chatter. You can see this at the end of the vid I just downloaded on this forum this morning in a different thread: http://www.ez-robot.com/Community/Forum/posts.aspx?threadId=2357 . I have considered a headset in the past, however I really want this robot to be stand alone. Meaning that I want to be able to walk into a room and say something that I want him to react to. It's ok with me if he "acts on his own" once in awhile when he hears something. It may make it seem more real.

Maybe we just can't have it all :( but that doesn't mean I wont stop trying.

Thanks and keep em coming. Dave Schulpius
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USA
#4  
Let me know what you guys come up with on a wireless mic. Another thought is how to screen share from robot computer ( itx) to another pc ( laptop) with no wifi? Can you adhoc ( peer to peer) two wi fi enabled computers and do remote desktop, with no Internet? It be nice not to have to mess with an onboard monitor, keyboard etc. plus maybe you're taking the robot on the road away from your home network. I have used both Teamviewer and Gotomypc, but again you need an Internet connection. Ideas comments or options?
#5  
Yes Will, This was also a concern of mine also. I thought I'd mount the itx in the inside rear of the torso. I have lots of room there. Then I could reach in through an access port and plug in a monitor when I needed to work on the program.

Working peer to peer from another computer would be a great solution. I have seen IT people work on my computers remotely like this. I don't know what program they use but I think Windows has something already built in it to do this. Also there are programs that can be used where you can log into your computer from anywhere. However like you mentioned; that computer needs to be running and hooked up the internet already.

As for the keyboard & mouse I planned on just getting a wireless keyboard with a touchpad. I have one of these I use on my Visual Pinball rig I built into a full size pinball machine cabinet. Works great and I don't have to reach in through the coin door and pull out an attached keyboard and mouse to work on the program. I have a 42" HD TV laying on top of everything with a sheet of glass closing it all in. Makes it very hard to work on the guts. Hey! Maybe EZ-B can be worked into my VP rig to make running it easier! Any thoughts? Here's a pic of it during construction:


User-inserted image


Thanks for looking,
Dave Schulpius
#6  
I was looking at your threads awhile and saw this one.i use copmuter boards and try to put small computer boards in all my robots
NOW ON ITX i like ZOTAC itx boards,and pico-itx PX10000G this one is a little slow 1ghz AND ONE AT 1.2 GHZ on the pico-itx ,ZOTAC is a lot faster,but can easy use 2 pico-itx together
lot a lot of professional designs use,one for main .another for hardware and sometrimes another for video processing ,since it takes the most resources and memory

There is another way to speed up a cpu board use a program called XPLITE its free,since some like to save money,it removes any programs and resources on windows XP thats not needed for robots

On speech or microphone one of the best is ANDREA SA-USB i think is the model
it has a scanning microphone and usb interface to get rid of noises
i have tried many and so far this one works perfect,also on the site many other professional microphones and interfaces to block noises,on mine i added a servo controlled voice tracking system (dam another idea for me to add to EZB) might try to convert the circuit design ,i know ezb has a A-D but i woulder has anyone tried a D-A hook up to it
my ideas are here to help anyone and doesnt matter if the guy doesnt like me or agree with me
#8  
Robotmaker, I like you just fine and you have a ton of good ideas. I just get tired of the tangents you always point out. Thanks for the above suggestion. This is heplfull and positive.

Irobot58, thanks also. I'll take a look.
#9  
Made by the same company andrea as the one i posted
i dont seem to care for bluetooth products too much.first short range second picks of RFI sometimes
depending on your location plus not on the robot is the biggest,i like everything on my robot the brain (cpu board) speech like a good noise cancelling microphone and all using direct connection and cpu has WIFI,YOU LIMIT ANY ERRORS

BUT i think is a good microphone,anotherr item i forgot,when using a headset cant hear the phone ring or any thing else.
even having problems with my EZB using bluetooth module.it may be too many computers on WIFI since i have a very powerfull antenna or my X10 that use in every outlet.lights alarm system spa and pool or something else ?
tried all 9 and same problem.does any else have a setup like mine and have any bluetooth problems
i will do a post on it for answers

i guess i am not the only one that has bad grammar or spelling ,
heplful what word it that
#10  
I guess its cool
on tangents as you say are just things i see on testing so many many platforms ,and software and try to compare them and faults they have and how to fix them
so you cant say my AI software i have is good or bad or better then EZB
I guess you really didnt see my AI software , DJ said nobody can post it or anything not related to EZB
thats not really very nice,other clubs love talking about other platforms, on this one doesnt like it

Evertime time DJ updates it gets better,still does have a very important item called encoders, magnetic or IR ,well need for navigation,BUT he did say he like the idea and looking to add it
#11  
DAVE you said i have hords of robots and EXB doesnt fill my needs that is very wrong
every robot i bought will only have a EZB boards.had to count how mant well over 50
so thats 50 EZB so how can you say i dont like the EZB is my most favorate platform ,way more then my other design,very main reason i joint this site for EZB :) :)
something about me I never get mad or say bad things or fights or anything else i am always a super super nice guy who donates my time for free for any one
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