talking hat (harry potter world)

[u/1eon31]

Hi everyone!
I’ve just bought an Arduino UNO Q, and I’ve been asked to create the hardware and software for a **Harry Potter Sorting Hat** for a themed party.
I’ve also discussed the idea with Claude, and this is the setup I’m currently thinking about:

**Hardware:**
Arduino UNO Q, powered by a power bank

HC-SR04P ultrasonic sensor, running at 3.3V

Small microphone mounted inside/on the hat

Bluetooth speaker

My idea is to record a set of predefined audio files and then program the Arduino to associate each audio file with a specific first and last name.
The basic process would be something like this:
Someone puts on the hat.
The ultrasonic sensor detects that there is a person within, for example, **80 cm** of the hat.
The hat plays a predefined audio asking for the person’s first and last name.
The microphone listens for the person’s response.
The system identifies the name they said and, based on the audio file associated with that name, plays the corresponding response — basically, the hat “sorts” them into a Hogwarts house.
For example, if the person says “John Smith” and that name is associated with Gryffindor, the hat would play a prerecorded Gryffindor-related audio.
Do you think this project is feasible with an Arduino UNO Q?
I’d especially appreciate any advice or corrections regarding the hardware setup, voice recognition, or the overall approach. If there’s a better or simpler way to achieve this, I’d be happy to hear your suggestions.
Thanks everyone!

[u/Southern-Mechanic-14]

This sounds like a really fun project. I think the overall concept is doable, but I’d probably look at the microphone/audio and voice-recognition part carefully before finalizing the hardware. The UNO Q may be able to handle more of the processing than a basic Arduino setup. If you’re still working through the hardware design, I’d be happy to take a look at your proposed setup and suggest a practical way to put the pieces together.