Creating an orchestra of robots
In an exciting fusion of art and technology, Professor Danielle George MBE, an electrical engineer and public engagement advocate, is set to unveil her latest project – a robotic orchestra – as part of the European City of Science celebrations in Manchester.
This groundbreaking Citizen Science project is unlike any before, reusing discarded machines and technology to create a unique ensemble of 50 robots. Each robot will play a specific part in the orchestra, with some performing on traditional instruments like violins, glockenspiels, and xylophones, while others will produce sounds from redundant technology.
The robotic orchestra, a more ambitious version of a pilot project assembled for the 2014 Royal Institution Christmas Lecture "How to hack your home", aims to showcase the ingenuity, creativity, and revolutionary spirit of the people of Manchester, and promote environmentally responsible practices.
Siemens is building a special robot conductor named 'Graphene' to keep the other robots in time. The Hallé Orchestra is also collaborating with the robotic orchestra, with Steve Pickett, Education Director at the Hallé, composing a special piece of music for the orchestra's launch and providing eight professional musicians to perform live alongside the robots.
The first rehearsal for the robotic orchestra is scheduled for June 24, with the grand performance on July 24, coinciding with the opening ceremony of the Euro Science Open Forum at Manchester Central. After its Manchester debut, the robotic orchestra plans to tour across the country with the support of the Royal Academy of Engineering, of which Professor George was awarded the 2016 Rooke Award for public promotion of engineering.
The project encourages participation from various age groups, including five-year-old primary school children and 75-year-olds, and aims to inspire more people to engage in tinkering, making, and engineering, and to consider how these skills can be used to address global challenges.
The UK Robotics Week is currently underway, running from June 25, and a new Robots exhibition is scheduled for 2017 at the Science Museum. This exciting event promises to be a highlight of the European City of Science celebrations and a testament to the innovative spirit of Manchester and the UK.
This robotic orchestra, a fusion of education-and-self-development and technology, encourages participation from all ages, inspiring individuals to engage in engineering and address global challenges. The orchestra, which includes traditional instruments alongside sounds from redundant technology, will also showcase entertainment and the art of music during its performances.
