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Tracking Sound Source Localization for a Home Robot Application

Authors:
Gil Lopes
Andreia Albernaz
Helder Ribeiro
Marcos Silva Martins
Fernando Ribeiro

Keywords: sound source; interaural sound difference; time difference of arrival

Abstract:
The future of robotics is now trending for home servicing. Nursing homes and assistance to elder people are areas where robots can provide valuable help in order to improve the quality of life of those who need it most. Calling a robot, for a person of age, can be a daunting task if the voice is failing and any resort to battery operated devices fails to comply. Using a simple mechanical apparatus, such as a Click trainer for dogs, a person can call a robot by pressing the button of a powerless device. The high pitch sound produced by this device can be captured and tracked down in order to estimate the person’s location within a room. This paper describes a method that provides good accuracy and uses simple and low cost technology, in order to provide an efficient positional value for an assistance robot to attend its caller. The robot does not need to search for the person in a room as it can directly travel towards the Click’s sound source.

Pages: 1 to 6

Copyright: Copyright (c) IARIA, 2016

Publication date: February 21, 2016

Published in: conference

ISSN: 2308-3964

ISBN: 978-1-61208-454-1

Location: Lisbon, Portugal

Dates: from February 21, 2016 to February 25, 2016