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.

Concert Hands incorporates Augmented Musical Instrument Technology (cue the cheesy bionic sound effect).

The four main components are the software, controller box, ten finger sleeves, and two wrist pilots.

The software takes the song file and converts it to a proprietary file system where the controller box distributes the signal to the wrist pilots and finger sleeves. The finger sleeves are placed on all fingers of both hands and the users wrists lay gently on the wrist pilots. When the music begins the wrists pilots guide your hands across the piano to a specific location and the finger sleeves receive a pulse to indicate which key to press.

The idea is after a period of time the repetitive motions and signals will develop muscle memory within the end user and enable him or her to play their favorite songs on their own.

Check out the videos and tell me if you think it would be wrong to hook up a bunch of kids to these, feed the system some John Cage piano music and see what happens.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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.

This is what ICCMR has to say about their singing robots:

ICCMR is a pioneer in adopting a computational neo-Darwinian approach to study and make music. We are developing Evolutionary Computation and Artificial Life techniques to model the evolution of music in surrogate societies of artificial agents and robotic simulations. These systems are programmed with the cognitive and physical abilities deemed necessary to evolve music, rather than with preconceived music rules, knowledge and procedures.

We developed a computational model that simulates the role of imitation in the development of music. This model has recently been implemented as a robotic simulation, which made an impact in the scientific community, resulting in press coverage by New Scientist.

We are currently developing a more sophisticated model inspired by Wundt’s theory of cognition to simulate the role of complexity in the evolution of music. We are also investigating the role of emotions in sound-based communication systems.

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

These guys aren’t laying down the turntable science yet, but the RobotLab Juke Bots are still pretty impressive.

Electronic musicians and DJs think they have it tough – but robotic-DJs have it even tougher.

They have to compete for attention with robo-strippers!

From Mutate Britain, a five week exhibition of multiple media, presented by Urban Style & Hosted by Joe Rush and Wreckage International of the Mutoid Waste Company.

RozzoBianca is a Swiss “Robotical Freak Show” – a band with 4 different robots playing guitar, drums, megaphone and accordion made out of old industrial parts, controlled by MIDI, plus a singing skeleton.

Here’s a video of them in action:

via MusicThing

Michael Una will conduct a MIDI robotic percussion workshop on Friday, May 2nd at Bent Festival Minneapolis.

Participants will receive free MSA-R kits donated by Highly Liquid. The workshop is free and open to all on a first-come, first-served basis.