Introduction: Voice Controlled Locking Device

About: 4D Makers is a group of curious engineers and enthusiasts who finds great satisfaction in creating and building anything from electronics.

This project entitled, Voice-Controlled Locking Device, as its name implies, is voice-controlled using the EasyVR Shield and is working together with the Arduino UNO as a microcontroller and the Gen4 uLCD-43DT as a graphics interface module.

Pre-defined pass codes and passwords can be used to operate the device, through the use of the EasyVR’s Commander program, where users can save and store their voice recordings and commands for the voice recognition.

Users can download the EasyVR manual using this link: http://www.veear.eu/downloads/

Step 1: How It Works

Step 2: Components

  • Gen4 uLCD-43DT
  • Arduino UNO
  • EasyVR Shield (Version 2 was used for this project)
  • 4D Arduino Adapter Shield
  • microSD Card
  • Jumper Cables
  • Printer Cable (for Arduino)

Step 3: Build

  • The EasyVR Shield should be connected between the Arduino UNO and the Gen4 Arduino Adapter Shield.
  • EasyVR Shield Version 2 was used in this project.
  • Connect the Gen4 Display to the 4D Arduino Adapter using a Gen4-IB and a FFC cable, use the Arduino printer cable for power supply.

Step 4: Program the EasyVR Shield

  • Connect the EasyVR Shield above the Arduino. At the back portion of the EasyVR Shield, remove and relocate the pin header to “PC”.
  • Connect and power on the device using the printer cable. Open the EasyVR Commander Tool and follow the next instructions.
  1. Select the proper COM port.
  2. Press the button to connect the EasyVR Shield.
  3. Select an empty group you want to use.
  4. Press the button to add a new command to the group list.
  5. Press the button to teach and record your voice command.
  6. Press the button to generate the Arduino (.ino) file for the new recorded files.

  • After adding and recording voice commands, disconnect the EasyVR Commander tool by pressing the disconnect button beside the connect button (see item number 1). Remove the pin header and return it to the “SW” side.

Step 5: Program the Arduino

  • To use the EasyVR Shield, read and follow the installation guide first, by downloading the user manual and Download the EasyVR Commander program for PC through this link:

http://www.veear.eu/downloads/

  • Open the project using the Arduino IDE. Make sure you have already downloaded/installed/added the EasyVR Library on your Arduino IDE, if not, please follow this link:

https://github.com/RoboTech-srl/EasyVR-Arduino/rel...

  • Change and configure the settings on the “Tools”
  • Select the correct Communication Port.

Step 6: Compile

  • Click on the “Upload” Button to compile, debug and load the code to the Arduino UNO
  • If uploading is successful, you will encounter the message on the second figure:

Step 7: Serial Monitor (Optional)

  • The program uses the Serial Monitor to display debugging messages, you can open this as an option and to monitor the activities performed by the project.

Step 8: Program

  1. Download the project code here.
  2. Click on the “Build Copy/Load” button.
  3. Connect the display to the PC using uUSB-PA5 and a mini USB cable. Make sure that you are connected to the right port. Red Button indicates that the device is not connected, Blue Button indicates that the device is connected to the right port.
  4. Now click on the “Compile and Load” button.
  5. Workshop 4 will prompt you to select a drive to copy the image files to a uSD Card. After selecting the correct drive, click OK.

Step 9: Mount USD Card

The module will prompt you to insert the uSD card.Properly unmount the uSD Card from the PC and insert it to the uSD Card slot of the display module. The image below must appear on your display after completing the steps above.