robotics

HITEC ROBONOVA-I robots dance to the sounds of Kraftwerk.

Unfortunately, they probably do this before they kill you and use your spinal fluids for lubricant.

via chaff79

When I was a kid, the Six Million Dollar Man showed that the combination of bionics and the human body could create a sort of ubermensh, better, stronger, faster – and able to fight off bad guys and jump over walls in slow motion.

But that won’t work on a piano.

Concert Hands, though, might just turn you into a bionic pianist. Read more…

ICCMR’s singing robots, Tom, Dick and Harry, were programmed at the University of Plymouth to sing Happy Birthday to celebrate the centenary of the London Science Museum. The robots were on display at the Science Museum’s Dana Centre on 10 June 2009. Read more…

Two clips from performances at Cal Arts demonstrate using the MLGI (Multi-Laser Gestural Interface) in musical performances.

via deadwaiter:

The first clip is of myself and Curtis Bahn, Professor of Computer Music Composition/Performance at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Curtis is using his eSitar and laptop running Max/MSP. I am using the MLGI and laptop running ChucK and Reaktor.

The piece is an improvisation inspired by the recent tragedy that took place at the Taj Mahal in Bombay, India.

The second clip was taken from the MTIID Musical Robotics concert. I am using the MLGI again with ChucK and Reaktor, but also using it to control our newly designed musical robot, as well as Ajay Kapur’s MahaDeviBot (unfortunately off camera in the clip).

You gotta love the Robotic GamelaTron of Zemi17 – and not just because its name makes you think of every cheesy sci fi movie ever made:

Zemi17 has augmented Gamelan instruments that he brought back for his time in Indonesia while the LEMUR team has built customized interfaces and robotic mechanisms to enable the playing of the Gamelan by computerized midi controlled robot arms.

Sonic Self, Chelsea Art Museum July 18, 2008, NYC.

zemi17 via thesonicself