Does LEGO WeDo 9580 really have a sound sensor? Yes and no. The LEGO WeDo basic set comes only with 2 sensors, a "motion" sensor (actually distance sensor) and tilt sensor. No sound sensor. The WeDo Resource Set 9585 also do not come with any sensor at all.
So where does this WeDo sound sensor come from. Actually the computer's mike (microphone) with the software sound input block together can serve as a sound sensor. The program below comprising START block, Display block with microphone input, WAIT block so that the display don't change so fast, and the REPEAT loop
The video below shows the number on the screen display changing with the sound loudness. Note: the values ranged from 0 to 10:
Video demonstrating voice command MOVE in 41 languages to make LEGO Power Function motor move using LEGO Wedo robotic program. Earlier post with explanation and program at Sound activated motor.
Footnote: pronunciation of MOVE in 41 languages made with Google Translate:
This post will demonstrate how to program a LEGO Power Function motor to move on sound input. We do not need a specific sensor to do this but it will use the computer microphone as the sensor to pick up sound. The Wedo program will consist of a START block, Wait for block, Motor turn this way block, Motor turn for 4 seconds block, Wait block and Repeat block plus a sound input as shown below:
On clicking START, the Wait block will wait for input of sound from the "sound sensor" (computer mike). On hearing sound, the next block turn the motor this way (clockwise) and following block set the motor to turn 3 seconds. The final WAIT 2 seconds block have to be added in to force an interval before the program loop back to the START to repeat. If this is not added, the sound of the motor turning itself will then trigger to motor to move again and the program will go through continuous looping without waiting for the intended sound to start.
See video below. Also see how we can use this to have a Sound controlled car which moves on a sound command eg. clap hands.
Application: Sound controlled car
There is an earlier post about Building computer controlled car. All we need to do to have a sound controlled car is to connect the motor shown below to the computer and setup the above program to make the car move on sound command such as clap of the hands:
Connect motor to computer plus above program to make car move on sound input
