Robot Voice Correction Using Head Orientation Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication robots do not adjust their output voice based on their head unit's orientation, leading to unnatural sounding voices that may seem strange to humans.
Innovation Solution
A robot system that includes a driving control unit, a voice generating unit, and a voice output unit, where the voice generating unit corrects the voice output using a vocal tract filter based on the head unit's pitch and yaw angles, mimicking human voice variations to produce a more natural sound.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the robot uses a fixed voice output system, then the device complexity is low, but the naturalness of the voice output deteriorates when the head unit moves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent copies the human vocal tract's frequency characteristics and applies them to the robot's voice output system. By measuring the frequency characteristics of a human vocal tract and applying these characteristics as correction data, the robot mimics human voice behavior when the head unit moves, achieving natural-sounding output without complex mechanical speaker adjustments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the frequency parameters of the voice signal based on the head unit's bearing. The voice generating unit adjusts frequency characteristics dynamically according to head orientation, applying different frequency correction data when the head unit is in different positions to maintain natural voice perception
2Ease of operation
If the robot adjusts speaker position based on head bearing, then the voice naturalness improves, but the device complexity and mechanical requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical speaker positioning system with a signal processing approach. Instead of physically moving speakers based on head bearing, the system uses a voice correcting unit that processes audio signals digitally, applying frequency corrections based on head orientation data. This substitutes complex mechanical actuation with computational signal processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a voice correcting unit as an intermediary between the voice generating unit and the output. This intermediary component receives the raw voice signal, applies frequency corrections based on head bearing, and outputs the corrected signal, thereby decoupling the voice generation from the physical speaker positioning requirements
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables the robot to output a natural-sounding voice that adapts to its head unit's orientation, enhancing user experience by varying the voice in both vertical and horizontal directions without requiring speaker position changes.
Implementation Method 1
The voice generating unit may use the vocal tract filter, which amplifies a frequency band of a signal of the voice, a sound pressure level is based on a pitch angle that corresponds to the bearing of the head unit in the frequency band
Data Source
AI summary
A robot may include a driving control unit configured to control a driving of a movable unit that is connected movably to a body unit, a voice generating unit configured to generate a voice, and a voice output unit configured to output the voice, which has been generated by the voice generating unit. The voice generating unit may correct the voice, which is generated, based on a bearing of the movable unit, which is controlled by the driving control unit, to the body unit.