Humanoid interpreter for teaching basic sign language

Abstract

This article presents the design and construction of the torso of a humanoid robot with 22 degrees of freedom (22 GDL) built by additive manufacturing, with the combination of an interactive graphical interface, especially designed for children to self-learn the language in basic sign Ecuador (ESL) through imitation. The interface is designed according to user requirements, should be easy and interactive, here the words is selected to interpret, the algorithm control activates the link mechanism of the humanoid, moving hands and body, transforming it in the form of signs, in accordance the Dictionary of Sign Language of Ecuador. For the construction of the torso, the model structure Inmoov took, made several modifications, according to the CAD/CAM/CAE philosophy and was constructed by additive manufacturing for a similar torso of a human model with multiple degrees of freedom. The humanoid was evaluated with children of Educational Specialized Unit Cotopaxi, using two teaching methods, one using traditional where the teacher teaches his students to interpret the sign and other interactive, where the interpreter is presented and the participants motivated to imitate the signs demonstrated by the humanoid repeated many times as they saw fit to its self-learning. With the implementation of this interpreter, learning times were reduced by 25% compared to the traditional method, serves as an assistant teacher and is an interactive means of communication between the deaf community and listeners.