Bot-thoven: A Robot Musician

Plan

For the third week, I met with my partner, David Cha, to discuss our plans for our research project.

Procedures

We met on Friday, September 20th and came up with a timeline for our research project. We also found xylophones on Amazon we would need to purchase in order to conduct our research.  

Progress

David and I updated the timeline we created last year now that we know our time frames for Senior Year. David also informed me that he finished creating MIDI files to test his program with (Yankee Doodle & Old Town Road). I shared with David the information I had learned from reading Background Research Articles.

The xylophone model we ended up choosing was:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0721W53FS/ref=psdc_11970371_t3_B005FPXM0U 

Problems

For next week, I will need to decide which servos to purchase for the servo-mallet system. 

Plan

For the second week, I conducted background research pertaining to my research project.

Procedures

I found five research articles relating to my studies related to the musical xylophone-robot I hope to create. For each article, I wrote down the purpose, methods, results, conclusion, and application to my personal project.

Progress

Each of the articles (numbers 1-5), provided new insight on the following subjects related to my project:

1. New ways on how to incorporate musical “expression” into robotic instruments
2. A US patent for an instrument (theremin) playing robot
3. Achieving different styles of strokes (as shown in robotic drums)
4. An interactive robotic xylophone with motorized mallets
5. How Musical Expression is Achieved on Xylophones

Problems

For the upcoming weeks, I will need to find all the materials I will need to for the project, including the xylophone and mallets.

Plan

For the first week, I wrote my pre-lab proposal detailing background information, goals, and application potential pertaining to my project. 

Procedures

I typed and submitted a pre-lab proposal which can be read here. 

Progress

The pre-lab proposal was approved and after discussing my ideas with my lab director, Mrs. Kucko, we were able to come up with a “Plan B” in case my project does not work as intended. 

Problems

For the upcoming weeks, I will need to find all the materials I will need to for the project, including the xylophone and mallets.