Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
Robot Pianist Is Self-Correcting
This little humanoid robot is just starting out in the business, but it can already play any musical score on the spot, and even listen to its own playing and self-correct when mistakes are made. Too bad it only has one finger on each "hand".
(Robot Pianist Is Self-Correcting)
Alyssa Batula and Yougmoo Kim, from Drexel University, Philadelphia [are] using it to explore musical performance - expression and interaction with other musicians, for example - rather than merely note-playing.So far, they've created a mini humanoid robot that can play the piano at 200 beats per minute...
The robot is less than 40 centimetres tall and is controlled by a small on-board processor, as well as a larger computer that sends it commands, such as which gestures to make...
The robot's limbs are controlled by motors and their position is updated every 20 milliseconds. At the moment, it can only hit the white keys. The robot can pick up wrong notes thanks to a pitch detection algorithm which makes sure each note is the correct pitch for that key. If the pitch is wrong, the system checks whether it fits neighbouring keys and the robot makes a note of the mistake so it doesn't make it again. It also uses the algorithms to detect the pitch of notes played by others so that it can join in and harmonise.
Fans of Arthur C. Clarke's 2001: A Space Odyssey recall the musical learning experiences of the HAL 9000 computer. Take a look at HAL singing "Daisy, Daisy" from the end of the movie (skip to 5:15 for the song).
(HAL 9000 sings "Daisy, Daisy")
Robots express themselves musically in these links:
- Robot Taiko Drummers Give Up Factory Day Jobs
Video! The robots were special guests at the 400 year-old Kokura Gion Daiko Festival in Kitakyushu, famous for traditional drumming competitions. - JukeBot
Video! Industrial-grade techno music for your next party event. - Robot Directs Detroit Symphony Orchestra Video
ASIMO walked quietly on-stage, waved to the orchestra, and then conducted the DSO in a performance of "The Impossible Dream" from The Man of La Mancha.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 12/16/2010)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 0 )
Related News Stories - (" Robotics ")
Robot Hand Separate From Robot
'The crawling, exploring object was V-Stephen's surgeon-hand...' - Philip K. Dick, 1955.
Is Optimus Autonomous Or Teleoperated?
'I went to the control room where the three other men were manipulating their mechanical men.' - AG Stangland, 1929.
Robot Masseuse Rubs People The Right Way
'The automatic massager began to fumble gently...' - AE van Vogt, 1944.
Optimus Robot Can Charge Itself
'... he thrust in his charging arm to replenish his store of energy.' - William Morrison, 1941.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
Mechazilla Arms Catch A Falling Starship, But Check Out SF Landing-ARMS
'...the rocket’s landing-arms automatically unfolded.'
A System To Defeat AI Face Recognition
'...points and patches of light... sliding all over their faces in a programmed manner that had been designed to foil facial recognition systems.'
Robot Hand Separate From Robot
'The crawling, exploring object was V-Stephen's surgeon-hand...'
Hybrid Wind Solar Devices
'...the combined Wind-Suncatcher, like a spray of tulips mounted fanwise.'
Is Optimus Autonomous Or Teleoperated?
'I went to the control room where the three other men were manipulating their mechanical men.'
Robot Masseuse Rubs People The Right Way
'The automatic massager began to fumble gently...'
Solar-Powered Space Trains On The Moon
'The low-slung monorail car, straddling its single track, bored through the shadows on a slowly rising course.'
Drone Deliveries Instead Of Waiters In Restaurants?
'It was a smooth ovoid floating a few inches from the floor...'
Optimus Robot Can Charge Itself
'... he thrust in his charging arm to replenish his store of energy.'
Skip Movewear Arc'teryx AI Pants
'...the terrible Jovian gravity that made each movement an effort.'
'Robovan' Name Already Taken - Elon, Try These
There are alternative names that are probably in the public domain by now.
How Old Are Tesla Designs?
You be the judge.
Is Your Autonomous Tractor Safe?
'The field-minder finished turning the top-soil of a two-thousand-acre field.'
Smart TVs Are Listening!
'You had to live -- did live, from habit that became instinct -- in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard...'
Police Drones In China Would Like To Have A Word With You
''OVERRIDE,' the City Fathers said suddenly, without being asked anything at all.'
Oh Great (Part 2), Fence-Climbing Robots
Please, no stingers.
