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Best songs for mobile robot *.wav playback? — Parallax Forums

Best songs for mobile robot *.wav playback?

Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,416
edited 2012-08-01 01:11 in General Discussion
Hey all,

Working on a little robot project that I need to take to a few places next week to show off. As part of my demonstration, a half-dozen robots will roll around playing songs in sync. They'll exhibit some fluid movement with a Ping mounted on a servo up front, using XBees to receive their commands about which song files to play back. The transmitter will use an RFID reader and several tags with the name of the song. No problems on the coding - it's all a matter of using existing other examples for my projects. A nice and simple, high-level multicore example using off-the-shelf code.

Choosing good songs is where I need help - which songs do you think would be appropriate for robot playback?

One song I already chose is Ozzy's Crazy Train. It's loud, shocking, and mobile! The best songs might have some kind of relation to either robots, movement, etc. Yes, I want people to laugh!

Can anybody recommend a few more good choices?

Thanks,

Ken Gracey

Comments

  • ercoerco Posts: 20,261
    edited 2012-07-31 15:38
    Daisy, but that's just me! :)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcuYXErG4Qs
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2012-07-31 15:40
    Ken Gracey wrote: »
    Hey all,

    Working on a little robot project that I need to take to a few places next week to show off. As part of my demonstration, a half-dozen robots will roll around playing songs in sync. They'll exhibit some fluid movement with a Ping mounted on a servo up front, using XBees to receive their commands about which song files to play back. The transmitter will use an RFID reader and several tags with the name of the song. No problems on the coding - it's all a matter of using existing other examples for my projects. A nice and simple, high-level multicore example using off-the-shelf code.

    Choosing good songs is where I need help - which songs do you think would be appropriate for robot playback?

    One song I already chose is Ozzy's Crazy Train. It's loud, shocking, and mobile! The best songs might have some kind of relation to either robots, movement, etc. Yes, I want people to laugh!

    Can anybody recommend a few more good choices?

    Thanks,

    Ken Gracey

    Ken,

    Welcome to the forum. Could you please post your code and a schematic? Thanks.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,261
    edited 2012-07-31 15:47
    Robot Parade, obviously: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFg5eWbFxEw

    Not really robotic, but fun, popular songs celebrating being mobile...

    Steve Winwood "Roll with It"
    Jerry Reed "Eastbound & Down" (Smokey & Bandit song)
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,261
    edited 2012-07-31 15:59
    Not a song, but the well-known Hal/Dave discussion from 2001 would be an interesting conversation between two robots. As could many Star Wars clips with R2D2 and C3PO.
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2012-07-31 16:22
    Ken,

    If you really can coordinate the bots, Fr
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,261
    edited 2012-07-31 16:30
    Some nice classical/ballet music would also be nice for synchronized movements:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpvOUnz4T7Q&feature=player_detailpage#t=179s

    And some goofy 80's disco music would be a hoot to see multiple robots boppin' to. Stayin' Alive, Disco Inferno, all that stuff.
  • RDL2004RDL2004 Posts: 2,554
    edited 2012-07-31 16:43
  • davejamesdavejames Posts: 4,047
    edited 2012-07-31 16:55
    ...Johnny Winter's "Still Alive and Well".
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,261
    edited 2012-07-31 16:58
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTZbSNOptd0&feature=player_detailpage#t=42s

    Also:

    Running on Empty : Jax Brown
    Take it Easy : Jax Brown/Eagles
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2012-07-31 17:02
    I win...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51ybp_YFo7I

    :)
  • lanternfishlanternfish Posts: 366
    edited 2012-07-31 17:07
    Crazy Frog http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNCfHKCZVy8
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,261
    edited 2012-07-31 17:10
    Classics:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ts2U1mkfz4 drive my car

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKz3cYY1Deg&feature=player_detailpage#t=70s great balls o' fire
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2012-07-31 17:28
    erco wrote: »
    And some goofy 80's disco music would be a hoot to see multiple robots boppin' to. Stayin' Alive, Disco Inferno, all that stuff.

    Ahem, these were 70s tunes. Disco died by the 80s!

    If you're going that route, there's no better -- and funnier -- than the Miracles singing Love Machine:

    The synchronized dance move are already choreographed!
    I'm gentle as a lamb
I'm not that hard to program
There's no way that you can lose
Chassis fits like a glove
I've got a button for love

    -- Gordon
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,416
    edited 2012-07-31 17:32
    Wow, great choices.

    Not so sure about a robot that exclaims "I'm just a love machine" but that's also a snazzy tune.

    Styx Mr. Roboto and Robot Parade are also very appropriate.

    Like everybody says "there's a wealth of knowledge on the forums!"

    Ken Gracey
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2012-07-31 17:43
    Snazzy is disco, man!

    Denny's fans will remember Love Machine from a commercial years ago where a hen and her chicks break out dancing to the song. I fell out of my chair first time I saw it. I think they did several over a period of years.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RELR70DoWL0

    As classic 70s robot songs go, this one might be the most famous:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXa9tXcMhXQ

    I'm imagining most of the ones today to have lyrics not suitable for a mixed audience.

    -- Gordon
  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,938
    edited 2012-07-31 21:24
    For some reason, I want to suggest....... The wheels on the bus go 'round and 'round, 'round and 'round, 'round and 'round...........
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2012-07-31 21:59
    I would pay money to see four S2 robots doing "love machine" with the tracks (mics) split into each appropriate bot.
    Wonder if there's a multitrack copy of that song somewhere.


    @Ken, Did you get it working?


    Jeff
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2012-07-31 22:38
    Will the Emic2 fit inside an S2? I think it will. An S2 equipped with an XBee, pen lifter and Emic2, combined with another Propeller connected to a keyboard and Xbee would make a pretty cool demo bot that is portable and easy to use. I think a disadvantage of the penlifter equipped S2s at the expo was the dependence upon a laptop.

    The S2 could say each letter as it is typed, then say the word, maybe in a sentence, then sing a song while writing out the word. After it is done it could speak instructions on what do do next. I think it could really raise the bar on "interactivity".
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,261
    edited 2012-07-31 23:19
    Or (assuming your audio system's fidelity is worthy enough) the one, the only song anyone would ever need for all eternity if stranded alone on a desert island:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAD6Obi7Cag&feature=player_detailpage#t=31s
  • Peter KG6LSEPeter KG6LSE Posts: 1,383
    edited 2012-08-01 00:36
    daft punk technologic


    Now that is a Good geek song !
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2012-08-01 01:11
    http://youtu.be/3TWmA9MeImc
    (The final march of the clip)

    You probably can't get the movements that well choreographed, but "Old Ranger's march" should be good...
    (Incidentally, all the soldiers there are conscripts with less than 12 month service.)
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