|
|
Project Goals
 |
Give Cybert a Very Large Vocabulary
Since Cybert is controlled by my PC, he has nearly limitless memory for programs and
speech! Cybert will have something to say about just about everything, and to make
his orations less predictable I'd like to have numerous variations for each
comment.
|
|
Implement Mapping and/or Navigation Routines
The Cye robot I'm using as Cybert's base already includes a program called
"MapnZap" that provides mapping and extremely accurate dead reckoning
functionality. Unfortunately, these routines are currently not accessible by the
.OCX that I will be using to write Cybert's programming in Visual Basic. Until the
necessary changes have been made, I may be able to use VB to run "MapNZap"
programs when I want Cybert to go to a specific location.
|
|
Give Cybert a Personality
Before I can truly feel that this project has been a success, Cybert will need to be
accepted as a member of our family. Human beings tend to anthropomorphize objects
anyway (look at the way some people name their cars), so this objective isn't TOO far
fetched.
 |
The best way to achieve this goal is by giving Cybert pet-like, or even human-like,
behaviors. Unpredictability is critical. If he says the same thing every time
he bumps into a wall, his programming will be obvious. I also have some interesting
ideas on how I can vary the robot's responses to things based on his "mood."
This concept is described in the report: "A
Model for Mood-Based Behaviors"
|
|
|
Teach Cybert to Teach Himself
As I said above, it is very important for Cybert's behaviors to be somewhat
unpredictable. When my daughter turns up the volume on the stereo, causing Cybert to
dash madly out of the room, and my wife asks, "What was that all
about???", I want to answer, "I have NO idea." (He may have been scared by
the sudden loud noise.) By giving Cybert the ability to teach himself, interesting
and unpredictable behaviors are almost guaranteed.
|
|
Make Cybert Useful
I have several ideas about how to make Cybert somewhat useful. He
could come into the bedroom every morning at a pre-determined time and wake me up.
He could even give me stock and weather reports as I'm getting ready for work.
|
|
Experiments in Telepresence
| Though not an autonomous function, I'd like to eventually add a camera and
transmitter. It should be possible, then, to control the robot from a remote location (via
the Internet), and see and hear what the robot sees and hears. This would be great
for home security, and would allow me to check up on my wife and daughter while I'm at
work. We could even communicate! I would be able to see and hear them, and by
typing messages that get converted to speech by the robot, they would be able to hear me,
as well. |
|
|
|
