One Person Control System for Animatronics - Tongue Control

David Boccabella · January 2014

Hi Folks.
We've all see it - The main character in the Animatronic suit is running around and on the side is his team of trusted R/C controllers. But - What happens if you are only the actor and you want to do the same. And even worst you are in a non-scripted ad-hoc environment - The Public!!!

Yes - you can pre-program sequences into a microcontroller BUT how do you then control it without been seen to be pushing buttons etc.

Where here is a solution. Tongue Control

How does it work? A mold is made of the actor's pallette and a small resin shield is made. On the resin sheild you place Hall Effect devices and a resistor network. This is so that whenever a single Hall Effect device is activates you can see a change in voltage on the output wire. Cover this in resin to insulate.

The actor can wear this (only 3 wires coming off it is needed) and it is attached to the A/D side of a microcontroller that will monitor the voltage changes. I use denture paste to hold mine in the roof of my mouth.

By gluing a tiny piece of fridge magnet (yes - the Hall Effect's units are THAT sensitive) to the tip of the actors tongue they can then press this against any off the Hall Effect devices and thus send a command to the controller.
Fridge Magnets are safe.. It is when you accidentally ingest rare-earth magnets that the problem occur.
I have got surgical superglue from a Vet's and the magnet holds on for several days. If anyone can suggest something else then PLEASE....

On my unit pictures below I also added an earphone unit to give an audio feedback of what was pressed but that can easily be set externally to it.

It's small, lightweight, easy to get used to.. and I can control 8 switches.. or 7 and use the center one as an emergency STOP!!!!

For example a PicAxe 08M2 for $4 is perfect for the controller for this. With more work it can even be totally inside the actors' mouth and use bluetooth/rf to send signals removing any need for wires.

Enjoy
Dave

Christopher Vaughan · January 2014

pretty slick. good work Dave

David Boccabella · January 2014

Thanks. This I'd the end of a long series of experiments.

Matthew Grove · January 2014

Dave, that is awesome. You have some talent there. I have been designing a dragon, small, that looks like he is holding onto the person, claw on shoulder, chest and hips. The dragon can look around. I am going to automat the breathing, so the rib cage moves in and out. Thought I would use incense In the snout for some smoke. I wanted to do tail flicks, claw griping and relaxing, snarls, ears moving, eyes moving, though I think eye lid blinks could be automated. As for the magnet, why not try something like a sleeve you can slip over your tongue that has the magnet on it? You could have Velcro or something that you could adjust for snugness. It's just a thought. I think a rubber band might cut off the circulation to you tongue. Maybe a surgical glove might work? Matthew

David Boccabella · January 2014

Hi Matthew

That does sound like a fun project and is perfect for a way of controlling your dragon without others realizing that your doing it.

I did look at a couple of ways including gloves.. But it really comes down to some sort of adhesion. This can be with a implant/tongue stud... or gluing. As the magnet is best on the tip of the tongue it makes it additionally difficult as the tongue can distort it's shape so much.

Really looking forward to seeing your dragon project too

David Boccabella · March 2014

Hi Folks.
I have finished it and done some test - it works very well.

The coil and board at the top is the power supply being an Induction Charging system. It is presses against the cheek on the outside above where the receiver module is.

The disk is the receiver module. It contains the

Receiver charging coil and board
A regulator to even the voltage to 5v.
A SMD PicAxe 08M that reads the voltage from the palette shield and encoded it.
A 433Mhz micro transmitter to send the information

The corresponding micro reciever is a single small board and can be hooked to any microcontroller. The range is about 10 to 30 feet. For my use it in incorporated into the electronics in the underskull.

On the right is the palette shield as described in the first part of my article. I removed the audio feedback as I could not hear it that well so all notifications will be handles outside with an earpiece.

As said - it works well but I am still trying to find an easy way to temporarily attack a small magnetic disk to the tongue tip. The disk can be a circle of fridge magnets so that it is of low enought field not to cause issues if ingested unlike the rare earth magnets.

Hope folks enjoy this
Dave

Johann adam Kitingan · March 2014

Thats awesome David! any videos?

David Boccabella · March 2014

Not yet.. But I am working on it.

Currently waiting for a friend to pop around so I can get a cast of my face so I can build up a shield for the charger side, as well ad a mound for the heads-up display, the lip syncing sytem, and the eyebrow sensors.

David Boccabella · March 2014

Oh - a suggestion I have not tried yet re the magnet

very things disc of silicon with magnet in center. Dap of denture glue and use suctions to hold it onto tongue

Chris Ellerby · March 2014

That is a great solution. Though I can see how the magnet glued to the tongue could cause some concerns and discomfort.

My first thought would be to use a small analog joystick that would be gripped between the teeth and controlled via the tongue. It could also have an additional button that detects when the teeth bite down on the base to add additional functionality.

With the joystick you would have 4 main directions to trigger off (you could use more directions but accuracy may be a challenge), and you could even use the bite switch as a function key to turn 4 directions into 8 commands depending on if the bite switch is open/closed.

If a slight delay (500ms or so) in the system is an option, you can even have different functions for how many times the joystick moves in a specific direction. Example: 1 move left = effect 1, 2 moves left = effect 2.

Optionally (and I like this option the best) you could use the bite switch to toggle between modes. 1 bite = mode 1, 2 bites = mode 2, 3 bites = mode 3, etc. Active mode could be indicated by a RGB LED inside the mask, piezo speaker, or haptic vibration.

Each mode could have a different layout of effects mapped to joystick direction, and you could even have modes where the joystick provides 1 to 1 analog control over a function like head or eye movement.

I would do some research into accessibility devices for the disabled, as there is a lot of research and development in that field that could be leveraged.

Again, brilliant solution with the hall effect sensors.

/Chris

Kees Klaassen · April 2014

very nice concept & interface, I like it having almost no moving no moving parts although Chris joistick id would work very wel if done wel.

quick ID for the one moving part, I understand that a tongeustrap would alter the shape of the tongeu to much but how about something like this: http://www.tonguetoteeth.com/

or make something similar, hope it helps. Thanks for sharing!

Kees

Jared Lee · April 2014

Great idea! So rad to see it was made into a reality!

David Boccabella · April 2014

Thanks Kee for that link.
It does look interesting.

I've been refining my idea's again (Yeah - I'm an inventor) and I realized that I can get very small - 1.4inch x 1.4inch resistive touch pads.

If one of those was mounted on the pallet plate then I can use the tongue's pressure to activate it.

The resistive unit act like 2 variable wisistors in an X/Y co-ord. When pressure is applied to a point a reading can be taken.

This does have some advantages.

1. The 'buttons' can be changed depending on the individual or function

2. It is infinitely changeable from using it as one giant button down to using it as a actual mouse inside the mouth

3. It only works on pressure so casual touches will not activate it.

4. NO modification to the use's tongue is required.

5. If necessary reference 'bumps' can easily be applied to the flat screen. Flexible screens may come later to better fit the mouth structure.

I am awaiting the touch screens to arrive from China where I will start to experiment some more.

I'll keep everyone posted. Mad Scientist as work Again *Laughs*

Marc

David Boccabella · March 2015

Just as an update. I saw these pics that someone else is using for a mouth interface. Thought they were great at explaining the concepts

Using these
https://www.pololu.com/product/2727
and a mouth shield one can quickly get something set up.
Currently I'm experimenting with types of plastic and vacuum molding for the mouth insert. Since these are a resistive sensor - not a switch- one can adjust the sensitivities on the A/D side to detect between a casual brush and a definitive pressure.
Using a multiplexer (4051 or DG408) you can quickly scan through each of the sensors and send the output to the A/D pin of an Arduino or similar.
With a little unit like this http://www.rfduino.com/ the unit can be totally self contained in the mouth with the battery sitting in the cheek.

For previous experiments - the touchscreens - although I did get a limit success - proved to be too uncomfortable because of their width, plus the concept of a glass plate in my mouth proved to be too unsettling.
But I was able to track movements.

Enjoy

Chris Ellerby · March 2015

Very cool. I really dig the RFduino, may have to pick one up to play with.

/Chris

David Boccabella · March 2015

With the RFDuino - You will need a BLE Dongle. Normal Bluetooth won't work.

David Boccabella · August 2016

Updates

After several false starts I now have Version 3. I have plugged it into an Arduino and can read each button. Front is on the left of the page

That is a 5 way navigation switch between the front and the IC. All in total 16 separate that can used for any function. Switches are from Panasonic and have a very light tough and a definite tactile click. The 6 at the back have a little longer stem than the one at the front.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020761/uploads/editor/3w/4kmr9cnnfmqg.jpg

For you tech guys - the embedded IC is a 74HC4067 - a 16 to 1 analogue multiplexer. One side of every switch is tied to ground and the other to an input on the IC. The output of the IC is pulled HIGH and is connected to an A/D pin on the Arduino.
Each time a switch is pressed the line is pulled LOW and then the Arduino can read the value. Normally the reading is 255, and when a button was pressed it read 6 or so.
A DFRobot Beetle will be mounted ontop of the chip and will have 4 wired exiting from the side of the users mouth. Power and Serial.

https://littlebirdelectronics.com.au/products/beetle-1pc

If I wanted to have everything internal then I can use a RFDuino and have a LiPo in the cheek cavity.

Enjoy
Dave

Chris Ellerby · August 2016

Wow, that's looking awesome. How do those switches hold up to moisture?

/Chris

David Boccabella · August 2016

Hi Chris
Many thanks for the comments

It will hold up pretty well to casual moisture however I plan to give the switches etc a light silicone coating as well. The switches are partially sealed but not water tight.

In addition a quick spray of a wax release product would also work.
Take Care
Dave

David Boccabella · September 2016

Hi Folks.

Version 3 is FINISHED. Just doing the programming before soldering on the final wires and encapsulating the works in a coating of silicone.
I used a RFDuino Beetle (Arduino) for the brain because of it's size.

11 buttons PLUS 5 way joystick - all invisibly controlled by your tongue. And you can still talk/drink etc.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020761/uploads/editor/5k/dsyxjvt26852.jpg

Version 4 is already in the design stage. It will be fully self contained and chat via Bluetooth. In addition it will also run on tiny lipo's or coin cells due to it's very low power requirements.

Enjoy

Chris Ellerby · September 2016

Very cool!

Might want to put a thin material down over each switch before encapsulating (like small squares of cellophane) so the silicone does not leach down into the mechanics of the switches and lock them up.

Can't wait to see where you take this next!

/Chris

David Boccabella · October 2016

It can also work with CRC2023 batteries

Wolf Reicherter · February 2017

David, this is absolutely insane in a really good way. Please keep in mind that ppl with paralysis might offer a secondary but very rewarding and grateful market for this kind of tech

David Boccabella · February 2017

Many thanks Wolf.
Sadly I have offered the concept to several groups. They are interested but want "A Working Prototype" before committing anything. The problem is that I am at the stage where I need some investment re getting multi-layer boards etc.

I'll still push the idea forward for my own interests.

Current status - evaluating ways to make a ultra-micro proportional joystick that will be water proof, self centering, as well as being sensitive enough to use with a tongue. It also needs to have a switch on top.

I'll keep you all posted

Wolf Reicherter · February 2017

huh, from what you have posted Id say you have multiple working prototypes that would already be usuable for a costumed character for sure. The work you have put in already is staggering to me. btw, how are ye surviving the heat wave? Been to your neck of the woods last year, but it was much cooler then

David DeMattia · February 2017

Cool!

David Boccabella · September 2017

Hi Folks.
I know it's been a while but I have been dragged to other projects for too long a while.
I am always keeping my eyes open re new tech and capabilities.

Found this which offers a lot of possibilities re size, bluetooth, power requirements, and inputs. Plus it can be programmed 'over the air'
Nice thing is it's tiny but not too tiny to solder wires on to.

Enjoy

https://www.seeedstudio.com/Seeed-Micro-BLE-Module-w&-Cortex-M0-Based-nRF51822-SoC-p-1975.html

Chris Ellerby · September 2017

You may also want to look into the NRF52 chip for small radio communication. I've been wanting to play with one for a while!

/Chris

David Boccabella · September 2017

Thanks Chris.
Yes - that does look interesting and one can solder the unit by hand if needed. There is a deluge of small SOC BLE chips coming out at the moment and all of them look exciting.
Even Adafruit has a dev board for it..
https://core-electronics.com.au/adafruit-feather-nrf52-bluefruit-le-nrf52832.html?utm_source=google_shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIv-qL-MDL1gIVTh9oCh1bcgZ8EAYYASABEgJ04PD_BwE

One Person Control System for Animatronics - Tongue Control

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