Mechanical Vocal Cord Model for Anthropomorphic Talking Robot Based on Human Biomechanical Structure

Abstract

WT-5 (Waseda Talker No. 5), a new anthropomorphic talking robot have been developed with novel vocal cords based on human biomechanical structure. The mechanical vocal cord model has vocal folds with hollow to reproduce layer structure of human vocal cords. The vocal cords are formed by using the thermoplastic rubber “Septon”, available from Kuraray Co. Ltd., which has similar elasticity to human tissue. The vocal cords self-oscillate driven by an air flow exhausted from a mechanical lung in similar manner to a human. With new mechanisms, the robot produces natural sounding voices closer to those of a human.