[8pla.net]

Robot Control in PHP. Robotic mouth opens in a series and closes.  All by clicking buttons using a mouse on a website. Controlling this robot from anywhere in the world is possible.



This demonstation runs on an Apache webserver on Linux.  The LEDs under the robot head are the Arduino connected via a personal computer USB.

[Art]

Wonder why the video doesn't show up in Firefox. Tried Chrome and it seemed to work OK.
Hmm...

Mouth movement(s) seemed pretty responsive to the screen selections with very little delay.

[DemonRaven]

So what happens when more then one person controls it at the same time? Does it jerk around like it is spasming?

[8pla.net]

Firefox may have had some temporary glitch with YouTube, Art?  It'll probably resolve itself.  There may still be something going on with the flash to html5 conversion at YouTube. Mouth movements are responsive, but around five times too slow to do visemes (lip movements for talking)... So far, that is. This demonstration just uses the basics. In PHP, further research may turn up improved techniques for the USB serial port communication.

This was a basic test run, which was successful in testing all the hardware was communicating.  It may, in the least, prove useful for movements which are not in realtime, such as movements to look around the room. Advanced test runs will run on this foundation.  Think of it as like the ELIZA of serial port communication tests, an important first step in hardware communication. 

Afterall, the PC is controlling the Arduino through a USB cable, which is mission critical in robotics. Well Raven, first thoughts... Since Linux treats the serial port like a file, then locking it for writing for each user, comes to mind.  Hasn't been tested yet, though. Should be easy enough to try on a local area network.  Jerk around like it is spasming?  In theory, no... The serial port needs a tiny itty bitty delay or it freezes right up and does nothing.  None of these theories, however, have  been directly tested, so these comments are for the sake of discussion.

[DemonRaven]

I was just being a butt and was curious. I did not test it.

[8pla.net]

Thank you.  Your curiosity, and feedback is all very useful.  Your question about multiple users was a good one, Raven. And, the feedback and testing by Art was very helpful too.  That helps guide the research needed for this robotic face.

There's more sharing to come on this and it should be sooner than later.  Last evening, I successfully programmed "her" to move "her" lips synchronized to random quote text to speech.  In other words, yeah, this female robot is now talking random quotes.

"She" may need further calibration.  But, at this point "she" is doing more nicely, than "she" is poorly, I think. You may be the judge.  The plan is to have a video on "her" talking posted here, maybe by this evening.  Thank you everybody for your interest.  Please join the discussion if you like, that would be much appreciated.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

[ivan.moony]

Did you think of going commercial, like on Kickstarter or somewhere? People seemed surprisingly interested in the kinds of robotics like your project is...

Who knows, if you implement a decent chatbot like Millie is, coupled with eyes and mouth movements... Shouldn't be too complicated, right?

[8pla.net]

Talking Female Robot Head
________________________________________________

TRANSCRIPT
________________________________________________

As you can see for yourself.
I'm certainly not perfect.
And, I never will be.
I may not be beautiful.
But, I am not dumb.
This, is my mission.
Fighting to survive every day.
Look at life, otherwise.
I do make mistakes.
However, I also get it right.
I am learning, all the time.
My views are different.
Bit by bit.
One stairway at a time.
I believe in myself.
I have confidence in my ability. 
You may be smarter than me.
But, that only inspires me. 
We can plug away, together.
Or else, there is no hope for us.
If you won't, someone else, will.
So, it has become inevitable.
Together we must. 
Operate more efficiently.
In the best possible manner.
With the least waste of time and money.
We can have the knowledge.
Assist each other.
Figure things out. 
Improve the world.
This, is who I am.
This, is only the beginning.

________________________________________________