philgorp
04-05-2004, 06:39 PM
source; New Scientist (http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994845)
The World's No.1 Science & Technology News Service
Humanoid robot conducts Beethoven symphony
10:15 04 April 04
NewScientist.com news service
The latest human activity to be mastered by robots was demonstrated recently when Sony's QRIO bot successfully conducted an entire orchestra.
The 58-centimetre-tall humanoid robot led the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra in a unique rendition of Beethoven's 5th symphony during a concert held at the Bunkamura Orchard Hall in Tokyo on 15 March.
A video of the robot conductor in action can be viewed on Sony's website here (rtsp://cds101.bit-drive.ne.jp/shp/02-38-QR105.rm) (RealPlayer required).
Perhaps even more impressive is footage (Windows Media Player required) of four QRIOs performing a complicated dance routine, recorded in December 2003.
In the last year or two, a number of humanoid robots have demonstrated human-like tricks, such as martial arts displays and dance moves. These have been developed by university researchers, as well as major electronics companies like Honda and Sony.
But Daniel Paluska, a robotics researcher at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in the US, says the dancing QRIOs appear to be the most graceful so far. "This seems to be smoother and faster, but on the same general theme," he told New Scientist. "It's still damn impressive."
The World's No.1 Science & Technology News Service
Humanoid robot conducts Beethoven symphony
10:15 04 April 04
NewScientist.com news service
The latest human activity to be mastered by robots was demonstrated recently when Sony's QRIO bot successfully conducted an entire orchestra.
The 58-centimetre-tall humanoid robot led the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra in a unique rendition of Beethoven's 5th symphony during a concert held at the Bunkamura Orchard Hall in Tokyo on 15 March.
A video of the robot conductor in action can be viewed on Sony's website here (rtsp://cds101.bit-drive.ne.jp/shp/02-38-QR105.rm) (RealPlayer required).
Perhaps even more impressive is footage (Windows Media Player required) of four QRIOs performing a complicated dance routine, recorded in December 2003.
In the last year or two, a number of humanoid robots have demonstrated human-like tricks, such as martial arts displays and dance moves. These have been developed by university researchers, as well as major electronics companies like Honda and Sony.
But Daniel Paluska, a robotics researcher at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in the US, says the dancing QRIOs appear to be the most graceful so far. "This seems to be smoother and faster, but on the same general theme," he told New Scientist. "It's still damn impressive."