Motivation for Using a Speech Synthesizer

Testing programs to control a robot, requires observing if the robot follows the intended actions for the program.

• For simple programs (e.g., move forward, turn right, and move forward again), testing is straight forward:
  • Programmer remembers what the robot is supposed to do.
  • Programmer observes the robot's actions
• For a program with many steps, testings can present a challenge:
  • Task 1: Follow the code to determine what is to determine happen when.
  • Task 2: Observe the robot's actions.
  • Notes:
    • If two (or more people) develop the program, one can do each task
    • Substantial challenge for one person to both read code and watch program.

Proposed Solution

Utilize a speech synthesizer

• Program sends a line of text to the speech synthesizer
• Speech synthesizer says the text (e.g., the intended action)
• Developer watches robot while listening to the speech

Good News: eSpeak Speech Synthesizer by Jonathan Duddington

Third-party, open source, free software available

• Code can run on Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows
• Basic capability:
  • Give eSpeak a line of text ⇒ eSpeak says text at workstation
  • Within parameters, can adjust speech qualities (but considerable effort required to tailor speech tone)
  • Some parameter settings available for vaguely female sounding and vaguely male sounding voice

created 27 January 2021 revised 30 January 2021

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