Control Alexa With an Old-School Ultrasonic Remote

Today, if you have a remote for your TV or stereo system, it most likely uses infrared signals generated by the remote to signal a corresponding sensor on the device. Remote controls weren’t always standard, however, and in the 1960s companies were experimenting with ways to not make you get up out of your seat when you needed to flip the channel from Mr. Ed to Leave it to Beaver or whatever else happened to be on the three available channels.

Entertainment options aside, one innovative remote control solution came in the form of the very futuristic-sounding “Space Command” remote from Zenith. This gadget used no batteries, and instead of IR, it emitted ultrasonic signals. This was done by physically striking the ends of tuned metal rods. It’s quite a clever device, but likely comparatively expensive to produce.

In the video below, Monta Elkins takes one apart and outlines how it works. He then uses a Teensy 3.2 to read these signals, passing this info along to an Arduino Uno that, in turn signals a very old Microvox speech synthesizer. Finally, the synth voice-commands an Alexa for a functional, if very Rube Goldberg-esque contraption.

Most of the details can be seen in the clip, but you can find more info on this type of synth in another Elkins video here. You can check out the Space Command remote module online for a bit of retro-reading.