The mechanical improvements of the anthropomorphic flutist robot WF-4RII to increas the sound clarity and to enhance the interactivity with humans

Abstract

The development of the anthropomorphic flutist robot, at Waseda University, has focused on imitating the human flute playing by mechanically reproducing the organs involved during such activity. Our research aims in understanding several aspects of the human flute playing: clarifying the human motor control while performing skillful activities, enabling robots to express ideas and feelings in musical terms and proposing new ways of interaction between the human and the robot. In this paper the new version of the flutist robot, the Waseda Flutist Robot No. 4 Refined II, is presented. The improvements of the mechanical system in order to improve the sound clarity of the robot’s performance and to enhance the interaction with humans are described. A set of experiments were carried out to verify the effectiveness of the mechanical components. As a result, the robot is able of performing a musical score with more clarity and furthermore, the robot can interact with humans more natural using the vision system.

A part of this research was done at the Humanoid Robotics Institute (HRI), Waseda University. This research was supported (in part) by a Gifu-in-Aid for the WABOT-HOUSE Project by Gifu Prefecture. A part of this research has been also supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). We would like to express our thanks to Mr. Kunimitsu Wakamatsu for his valuable advices.