The Animatronic Lips with Speech Simulation (ALiSS) project developed from
the requirements for a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering at
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.  The original
objective was to build mechatronic lips capable of mimicking human speech.
The need for a complete oral framework to support the lips quickly surfaced,
so the project expanded into the construction of a mechanical mouth with
moving lips and jaw and the use of software to translate written text into
synchronized motion and sound.