A wise man once said “If all you’ve got is a cute desktop compressor and some solenoid valves, everything looks like a robotic harmonica.” Or maybe we’re paraphrasing. Regardless, [Fabien-Chouteau] built a pneumatic, automatic harmonica music machine.
It’s actually an offshoot of his other project, a high-speed candy sorting machine. There, he’s trying to outdo the more common color-sensor-and-servo style contraptions by using computer vision for the color detection and a number of compressed-air jets to blow the candy off of a conveyor belt into the proper bins.
But before that gets rolling, a test of the computer-controlled pneumatic setup is in order. And that’s where the harmonica entered the picture. The “build” is really just him putting the tubes from the candy sorter into a harmonica. There’s an ARM processor spinning its high-powered wheels, and some MOSFET drivers to open and close the valves. But that’s it. Watch it play a “tune” in the video below.
We love wacky instruments, robot anythings, and serendipitous spin-offs. What’s the coolest project that you’ve made that wasn’t the main project, but just a step along the way? Did you plan it in advance or did it just happen? Did you have the guts to post it like [Fabien]? Can we encourage you?
lol k…
i had an idea for something like this,… but with a slide whistle… a servo controlling the whistle length and air pressure to the whistle with a solenoid valve
had it working with tests but no air compressor,.. maybe i’ll try again
I might go with something like a hard drive voice coil rather than a gearmotor servo. It should be able to produce a much smoother transition with less added noise to the result. Maybe a spring loaded solenoid would work, just use driver with controllable current and you should be able to position it.
That is a brilliant idea with the hard drive voice coil! I think it would work quite well attached to a plunger or syringe with a spring added to bring the actuator back on its own. A little less gaudy than the air compressor lol. I could imagine a calliope / organ could be also made in a similar manner.
lol, really cool, would call it steampunk style but… no steam, just the air;)
I wanted to do something similar with Bagpipes! For some reason the other members of my house were not in favour of me developing this instrument! :)
I’m all for doing self-playing bagpipes!
I just got an idea for a customized doorbell.
To discourage door-to-door salesmen, you could Design the system to require them to hand pump the air required to make the doorbell work! ;-)
And a vacuum pump for the draw reeds?
Yeah, I was wondering how you’d hit the draw notes.
If you want to really make my jaw drop, set it up to do bends. :D
Hard drive actuator attached to a syringe / bypass valve system?
this is cool. I could see things getting really out of hand with high-speed valve control and PWM.
He needs to put a pair of sunglasses on it, you know to be cool.
How about compressorhead ? :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKAWBNl4MeA
I have found the information I have been searching for air compressor. Thanks for video.
Hmmm … might be a while before the robot can headline a Led Zep cover band doing “Nobody’s Fault But Mine”.
Nice implementation! I did something similar for my undergraduate project at school a while back: http://www.jiggywatts.com/technology/harmonica-printer/