Reader Dmitry Morozov, aka vtol, has created a new robotic instrument, the Turbo Gusli.

The Gusli is a sort of Russian zither. Morozov has updated the instrument with robotics, electronics and Arduino control. He’s even tried out brain-control, using an EEG headset.

Here’s a demo of the Turbo-Gusli in action:

Morozov calls his music robots ‘Russian folk bots’, or a ‘portable electro-acoustic orchestra.

The video below demonstrates the Turbo-Gusli under brain control:

Technical details:

• The Turbo-Gusli is controlled by emotiv EPOC neuro EEG headset via OSC –> Pure Data –> arduino –> servo motors and solenoids.
  • servo motors x6
  • dc motor x1
  • stepper motor x1
  • solenoids x3
  • spings x8
  • strings x38
  • arduino uno x2
  • controlling software – pure data

See Morozov’s site for more examples of his work.