Voice-Activated Television Remote Control (VAR)

Senior Design I

Final Presentation

[1]

VAR Team Members

Team LeaderElectrical Engineer

• Design• Hardware• Documentation

Computer Engineer

• Website• Voice Recognition Coding• PIC programming

Computer Engineer

• Website• Voice Recognition Coding• PIC programming

Adviser: Dr. Pan Li

Electrical Engineer

• Hardware • Research •Debugging

Melissa Webb

David TrosclairBobby Britton

Bader Yaseen

Outline

• Problem• Solution• Constraints

• Technical• Practical

• Testing• Prototype • Future Tasks• Questions

Problemand

Solution

Problem

Some people do not have the ability to operate a standard hand-held television remote control.

Our market is the elderly and/or disabled.

 

“During the 20th century, the number of people in the United States aged 65 or over increased by a factor of 11, growing from 3 million to 33 million” [2, 3].

Solution

The VAR will allow users to operate their television by using voice commands.

By speaking into a microphone, the user is able to control 6 key functions of the television:

- Power - Mute

- Volume Up - Volume Down

- Channel Up - Channel Down

What is the VAR?

• The user will speak the commands into a microphone attached to a computer with our voice recognition software.

• The software will translate and wirelessly send the signal to the VAR.

• A microprocessor will convert from the wireless input to an IR signal and output to the television.

VAR

Technical and PracticalConstraints

Technical Constraints

Name Description

Power SupplyThe VAR must operate from a standard 120V wall outlet.

Response TimeTarget time for complete process is less than two seconds.

Transmission Distance

The wireless signal and the IR signal’s maximum distances are 15 feet.

Voice Commands The VAR will recognize six vocal commands.

IR AccuracyThe IR signal must be transmitted and received accurately 98% of the time.

System Overview

Practical Constraints

Name Description

Product Size The VAR will be no larger than 8” x 8” x 3”.

Operating System The VAR will be Windows OS compatible.

Practical Constraints Manufacturability: Product Size

The VAR will be no larger than 8’’ x 8’’ x 3’’.

• Convenient for user

• Easily fits into any space

• Portable

• Comparable to devices such as modems and routers

Practical Constraints Manufacturability: Operating System

The VAR software will be Windows OS compatible.

• Microsoft Windows is one of the most commonly used operating systems for personal computers [4].

• Executable files of the program can easily be made.

Testing

Testing: Voice Recognition Software

Testing: Voice Recognition Software

Extra Functions:

Volume Up/Volume Down- Intervals of 5

Channel Numbers- 1 through 9

Channel Key Words- PlayStation: TV’s Input Channel (A/V)

Testing: Voice Recognition Software

User Percent Error for each User (%)

Power Volume Up

Volume Down

Channel Up

Channel Down Mute

Bader 0 0 0 0 0 0

Bobby 0 0 0 10 10 10

David 0 0 0 0 0 0

Melissa 0 0 0 0 10 10

Testing: Bluetooth

Testing: Bluetooth

Char value sent from Bluetooth transmitter to Bluetooth receiver.

Each command has a char value.

Testing: Microcontroller

Testing: Microcontroller

Testing: Microcontroller

Testing: IR Transmitter Accuracy

Command Accuracy (%)15 ft. Straight Ahead

15 ft. 15° to right

15 ft. 15° to left

Obstructed View

Power 100 100 100 0

Volume Up 100 100 100 0

Volume Down 100 100 100 0

Channel Up 100 100 100 0

Channel Down 100 100 100 0

Mute 100 100 100 0

Testing: Latency

Command Time (s)

Power 0.65

Volume Up 0.66

Volume Down 0.61

Channel Up 0.70

Channel Down 0.73

Mute 0.51

Testing: Sunny Day Case

• User enters correct COM port

• VAR is connected

• User says key word “Listen”

• Command is recognized

• User says command “Power”

• Television responds by turning on or off

Testing: Sunny Day Case

• User enters the correct COM port.

• Software informs user that the COM port is closed i.e. VAR is off

• VAR still tries to connect.

• Once the connection is made, the VAR is connected and normal operation continues.

Testing: Rainy Day Case- Bluetooth not Connected

Testing: Rainy Day Case- Bluetooth not Connected

Testing: Rainy Day Case-Unrecognized Command

• User enters the correct COM port

• VAR is connected

• User says key word “Listen”

• Command is recognized

• User says command “Power”

• Command is not recognized

• User prompted to repeat command

Testing: Rainy Day Case-Unrecognized Command

Working Prototype

Breadboard

Breadboard

On/Off Switch

Breadboard

Status LED

Breadboard

BlueSMiRF Silver Bluetooth Receiver

Breadboard

PIC24HJ64GP502

Breadboard

IR Transmitter

VAR System Setup

VAR System Setup

TV

VAR System Setup

VAR

VAR System Setup

PC

VAR System Setup

Mic

Video

Future Tasks

Future Tasks

• Software Refinement

• PCB Design using Eagle layout

• PCB Populating

• Enclosure

• Testing

August September October November

Software Refinement

PCB Design

PCB Populating

Enclosure

Testing

Timeline

Enclosure

References

[1] (2012, February 18). “Elderly Couple Watching TV,” in fotosearch. [Online]. Available: http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/television-programme.html

[2] F. Hobbs. (2012, January 21). “The Elderly Population,” in U.S. Census Bureau. [Online]. Available: http://www.census.gov/population/www/pop-profile/elderpop.html

[3] (2012, January 21). “Sixty-Five Plus in the United States,” in U.S. Census Bureau. [Online]. Available: http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/statbriefs/agebrief.html

[4] (2012, February 18). “Operating System,” in StatCounter Global Stats. [Online]. Available: http://gs.statcounter.com/#os-ww-monthly-201202-201202-bar

Voice-Activated Television Remote Control (VAR)

Senior Design IEnd-Semester Presentation

Questions?