Video: Symphony by Robot
Don't miss this cool video of the Detroit Symphony performing "The Impossible Dream". being conducted by Asimo, a 1.3 metre (4ft 3in) tall robot designed by car manufacturer Honda.
Asimo was programmed to mimic the orchestra's education director as he conducted the piece in front of a pianist six months ago. During early rehearsals, Asimo - which stands for Advanced Step In Innovative Mobility - slowed the tempo and the orchestra lost its place, something a human would have sensed.
"It's not a communicative device, it simply is programmed to do a set of gestures," musical director Leonard Slatkin said. Bassist Larry Hutchinson said while the movements were a little stiff, they were "very humanlike, much more fluid than I thought".
Posted by Jason McManus.
Source link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7401266.stm
It is really a shame that Honda didn't add "Vehicle" to the name after "Mobility". Wouldn't that have made a perfect name for a robot (and honored a great man)?
Posted by: John F. | May 17, 2008 at 01:36 PM