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:

Via New Scientist.

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 ")

Proof Of Robothood - Not A Person
'Who are you people? - Show 'em.' - James Cameron (1984).

Dancing Robots Taught Dance Moves
'A clockwork figure would be the thing for you...' Jerome K. Jerome, 1893.

Factory Humanoid Robots Built By Humanoid Robots
'...haven't you a section of the factory where only robot labor is employed?' - Isaac Asimov (1940).

Mornine Sales Robot
'Robot-salesmen were everywhere, gesturing...' - Philip K Dick, 1954.

 

Google
  Web TechNovelgy.com   

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

Proof Of Robothood - Not A Person
'Who are you people? - Show 'em.'

Dancing Robots Taught Dance Moves
'A clockwork figure would be the thing for you...'

Indonesian Clans Battle
'The observation vehicle was of that peculiar variety used in conveying a large number of people across rough terrain.'

The 'Last Mile' In China Crowded With Delivery Robots
Yes, it's a delivery robot. On wheels.

Tornyol Microdrone Kills Mosquitoes
'The real border was defended by... a swarm of quasi-independent aerostats.'

PLATO Spacecraft, Hunter Of Habitable Planets, Now Ready
'I ... set my automatic astronomical instruments to searching for a habitable planet.'

Factory Humanoid Robots Built By Humanoid Robots
'...haven't you a section of the factory where only robot labor is employed?'

iPhone Air Fulfils Jobs' Promise From 2007 - A Giant Screen!
'... oblongs were all over the floor and surfaces.'

ChatGPT Now Participates in Group Chats
'...the city was their laboratory in human psychology.'

iPhone Pocket All Sold Out!
'A long, strong, slender net...'

Did The Yautja Have These First?
What a marvel of ingenuity the lit­tle device was!

Jetson ONE Air Races Begin, Can Air Polo Be Far Behind?
'If you're one of those rarities who haven't attended a rocket-polo "carnage", let me tell you it's a colorful affair.'

Will Space Stations Have Large Interior Spaces Again?
'They filed clumsily into the battleroom, like children in a swimming pool for the first time, clinging to the handholds along the side.'

Mornine Sales Robot
'Robot-salesmen were everywhere, gesturing...'

Bipedal Robot Floats Gently While Walking
'a walking balloon proceeded with long strides of its aluminum legs...'

Musk Idea Of Cars Talking To Each Other Predicted 70 Years Ago
'My cars talk to one another.'

More SF in the News Stories

More Beyond Technovelgy science news stories

Home | Glossary | Invention Timeline | Category | New | Contact Us | FAQ | Advertise |
Technovelgy.com - where science meets fiction™

Copyright© Technovelgy LLC; all rights reserved.