Many of us have experienced irritation from a talkative viewer in a cinema or loud noise in a restaurant. But what if we could “muffle” the sound of others as easily as turning off a microphone in an online conference?
Scientists from the University of Washington have developed unique miniature robotic speakers that can isolate and drown out sounds in certain zones of a room. These robots, measuring only 2.5cm in size, automatically move to the appropriate locations where unwanted conversations are present and “muffle” them using microphones and complex algorithms for tracking and isolating voices. Once the task is completed, the robots return to their charger.
The robots, utilizing high-frequency sound and sensors, navigate between obstacles while avoiding collisions and emit sound similar to bats to maintain balance. The main achievement of the research is the coordination of a “swarm” of robots using sound. Tests have shown that they can distinguish voices at a distance of just a few centimeters from each other.
Watch a video demonstration of the work of these robots here.
In the future, these robots could become an integral part of smart houses and corporate assemblies, simplifying communication and improving confidentiality. The scientists also plan to create robots that can move throughout the entire room. According to the study’s author, this system could provide a zone of confidentiality where conversations will not be recorded.