Robotic Guitar Player

Hi, I'm a final year mechanical engineering student and my final year project is to build a robotic guitar player.
My intention is to use solenoids to press the strings in different combinations to correspond with different chords.
I would like to know if using a PLC to program this setup is possible and if so would it be capable of powering up to 24 solenoids??
Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated
Thank and regards,
CDV

Yes.

I'd be interested in how you were going to control the tempo. Very interesting project.


But the basic question you asked, yes you could control 24 solenoids with one PLC.

Now this one sounds like fun. Look forward to seeing updates on how it's going

Would I be using ladder circuits to program the PLC and what kind of cost am I looking at to purchase one that will do the job??

If you don't already have access to the software, it is going to be quite pricey. I know that my senior project budget wasn't very high, and a PLC Programming Software would have taken a big chunk out of it. I know my senior project course in college would not have been able to afford a PLC and software.

But, I'm sure your school would have a copy that you would be able to use.

I'm sure it's possible. I think it would be a nightmare from a timing standpoint, but you could definately determine the required solenoids to create a chord, set up all of the chords in logic, then start playing with your timers to trigger the chords in sequence.

Several years ago I visited 'The House on The Rock' in Wisconsin and, being from the automation/ controls field was a kid in a candy store watching all of the things in there...
http://www.houseontherock.com/html/attraction.htm





http://www.pbase.com/ysic/image/35136308



100 year old violin machine....





http://www.pbase.com/ysic/image/35136268

http://www.pbase.com/ysic/image/35136324

Is using a PLC the best way to go for this project or can anyone suggest alternatives. My main problem is a serious shortage of time. I may not get to finish the project but would like to get as much done as possible. So, if timing the solenoids is going to be time consuming when it comes to programing the rig it may be better to use another method... Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!! Oh and thanks for the replies so far!!

PLC would offer the easiest and fastest way to time and change the solenoid order.

It's not that the timing would be time consuming to program, it'd just be complicated to get it to sound good, just because it's automated, and not human.

I think a PLC would be the easiest, since the programming is very easy to change. Just not the cheapest.

how well does this thing need to play in order to satisfy the objectives of your project? ... if "slow strumming" is good enough then don't worry about "timing" the PLC ... but if you need "tempo" and "rythym", then we might have something to talk about ...

just between you and me, the hardest (and most time consuming) part of this project is likely to be getting the hardware interfaced with the guitar ... lining 24 solenoids up with the strings and the frets is not going to be a trivial engineering task ... and you're going to need a certain amount of force to make the strings "stop" on the frets ... that's probably going to take some type of lever arrangement ... I doubt that a reasonably sized solenoid is going to provide enough force by itself ... I'd do some preliminary "bench-test" experiments along these lines before I got too deep into this ...

it sounds like a lot of fun ... but there's going to be quite a bit of work - and time - involved in it ...

don't let me discourage you ... just experiment first before you jump into the deep end of the pool ... what kind of budget do you have? ... and what's your deadline? ...

party on ...

CDV,

There are all types, sizes, and prices of PLCs, and probably one that you can afford. The Automation Direct brand has some good low-cost PLCs, but charge for the programming software. Enteron softwre comes with their PLCs.

You should be able to get set up for with a small PLC and software for $400.

cdv,

There's a PLC program posted on this website that will play your gutar. Basicly it's a recorder. It records the inputs & timing, then replays it back. It runs on an AutomationDirect DL06. That PLC costs ~$250.00 USD. You will also need a programming cable. You can download the demo version of DirectSoft 5.0 for free. It's (the demo software) limited to 100 instructions but the program is shorter then that.

Have fun.

Ron Beaufort said:

... just between you and me, the hardest (and most time consuming) part of this project is likely to be getting the hardware interfaced with the guitar ...

Click to expand...

Perhaps a tenor banjo


or even a erhu



would suffice

Is it too late to switch to a piano? At least the logistics would be easier.

Several years ago I visited 'The House on The Rock' in Wisconsin and, being from the automation/ controls field was a kid in a candy store watching all of the things in there...
http://www.houseontherock.com/html/attraction.htmhttp://www.houseontherock.com/html/attraction.htm

Click to expand...

Control Freak, I guess you and I are the only ones that have been to the House on the Rock. It is a huge awesome place. I found it unbelieavable that one old guy accumulated all that stuff. I would like to work there maintaining those 100+ year old auto-playing musical instruments.