Music Derby is a game in which sound of music
runs seven robots.
The player predicts which robot will go the
farthest when a tune is over.
A single pitch is assigned to each of the
four-legged walking robots that imitate animals
such as deer, rabbits, and mice.
For example, the note C is assigned to deer, the
note D is assigned to rabbits, and note E is
assigned to mice.
When the note G is played, the pig moves
forward.
When the note F is played, the giraffe moves
forward,
and when the note E is played, the mouse moves
forward.
If twinkle twinkle little star is played in C
major key, which animal will go the farthest at
the end of the song?
In C major, C is the tonic note, so you might
expect that the deer assigned to C goes the
farthest.
But in reality, the pig assigned to G wins.
This is because G appears most frequently on
twinkle twinkle little star.
On the contrary, the cat never moves because B
never appears.
In this way, Music Derby can visualize the
frequency of occurrence of notes on the scale in
a song.
The microphone picks up the sound played by the
instrument.
Analyze the pitch with Arduino.
Rotate the motor to move the animal forward.
I tested pitch detection system with various
musical instruments.
Keyboard type harmonica is not bad but missed
some notes such as F.
Metallophone and toy piano have good reaction.
12 string guitar is not good, contrary to
expectations.
Voice is not good, but it might be used with
some tuning, I guess.
Maybe I need voice training also.
Recorder is the best instrument for pitch
detection.
I think it's because it doesn't contain much
harmonics.
(1) Play a sound from a musical instrument such
as a keyboard. (Single note is desirable)
(2) Analyze the pitch of the sound with Arduino.
(3) Each animal corresponding to the note of C,
D, E (Do, Re, Mi) advances.
For example, when the sound of E(Mi) is played,
the third animal (because E(Mi) is the third
note of C,D,E...) moves forward.
If the note F is played, the fourth animal moves
forward.
(4) The animal in the foreground wins when one
song has finished playing.
Older versions used fans to advance balloon
animals.
There are 7 courses from note c(Do) to note B(Si).
There is a step between each course so that the
animals can go straight.
The name of the note is engraved on the course
so that you can see which sound it is.
Animal and sound assignment
C
Deer
D
Rabbit
E
mouse
F
Giraffe
G
pig
A
Rabbit
B
cat
Instrument used
Awards
Maker Music Festival 2022 "Awards of Merit" 3
stars
Original Mind 11th(2022) Making Culture
Exhibition Awarded
Amazing Maker Awards 2022 3rd Prize in Artistic
Category