Meeting Notes & Agendas

10/16/17 Meeting Agenda

Submitted RobOrchestra to 50th Anniversary showcase
- November 10th 11:30am-2:30pm
- Setup starts at 9am
RoboHub
- Overarching club project aiming to have ready-to-go demos in the club
- Run RobOrchestra off of a dragon 410c board
- Start a RobOrchestra demo with just the press of a button
UkuleleBot Updates
- Circuit and Arduino code pretty much ready to go
- Clamp underway
- Need some people to start working on the strumming arm
Software
- Update from last week?
- Add drums to Markov chains, and chords
Interactive algorithms
- Updates from last week?
New instrument
- Lets start getting a new instrument underway!
- Perhaps something interactive, or involving sound synthesis?

More scales and other interactive features
Markov chains
- Generic Markov chain class done
- Discuss what kinds of states we want to use
- Create MIDI reader
- Eventually combine these into one system
Any mechanical/electrical projects people are working on

Project Updates
- Clamp parts arrived!
- What has everyone gotten done??
- Address any issues that are arising
- Next steps for each task?
Mechanical and electrical work together to test circuit and clasping structure
- Clamp finger plate to Ukulele
- Hot glue pins to finger plate
- Use electrical tape to secure circuit connections
- Run Ukulele Arduino test code
Set up Xylobot for testing new generation algorithms
- Markov chains
- Interactive scales
No meeting next week (October 9th)

Overview of RobOrchestra data flow
- How are all the instruments connected?
- How are MIDI messages handled?
- How can new instruments fit into the system?
Go over structure of what meetings will be like form here on out
- Focus on updates and assigning tasks instead of working
- Work on project outside of meetings or after
Introductions and task assignments
- Add more scales and modes to interactive music generation algorithm
- Create music using markov chains from existing music (In progress)
- Develop a new music generation algorithm
- Design/build a clamp to secure fingering plate to Ukulelebot
- Drill holes for thicker Ukulelebot finger plate (requires shop training)
- Solder new MIDI shield
- Write Arduino test scripts to test functionality of Ukulelebot and Xylobot
- Wire up Ukulelebot circuit to new Arduino and MIDI shield
- Begin planning and designing a new instrument (possibly interactive?)
Sara will go over how to set up and operate RobOrchestra for those interested

Everyone should have their computer set up at this point
- Everyone should have installed GitHub Desktop and downloaded our repo
- Those interested in electrical should have the Arduino IDE installed
- Those interested in software should have Processing installed and (hopefully) playing sound
- Those interested in mechanical should have signed up for shop training!
Overview of MIDI standard
- What is it?
- Why is it useful?
- How do we use it in RobOrchestra?
Split up into subgroups
- Electrical
  - Practice soldering and making connectors (led by Manu and Tito)
  - Practice writing and uploading Arduino code to tomBot (led by Wendy)
  - Check connections on UkuleleBot circuit and remake broken ones
- Software
  - David will go over some techniques we used last year for music generation
  - Practice writing simple music generation algorithms and test with Xylobot
- Mechanical
  - Sara will go over UkuleleBot design and how to use GrabCAD & McMaster
  - Install new finger plate for Ukulelebot
  - Take measurements for new lasercut strumming arm
  - Discuss design ideas for Ukulelebot clamp and new instrument
Sara will go over how to set up and operate RobOrchestra