Assembling a mechanized symphony ensemble
In the heart of the North West, a groundbreaking project is underway, as Professor Danielle George MBE leads the creation of a robotic orchestra. Over 50 robots, built by locals, are set to perform in a unique symphony that will showcase the ingenuity and creativity of Manchester's people.
This ambitious project is an evolution of a pilot version that graced the stage for the 2014 Royal Institution Christmas Lecture titled "How to hack your home." Siemens is contributing to the endeavour, building a special robot conductor named 'Graphene' to keep the other robots in time.
The aim of the project is twofold: to encourage more people to tinker, make, and discover the secret engineer inside themselves, and to explore how a city can re-engineer its old 'stuff' and spread environmentally responsible practices.
The robot orchestra will consist of various electronic brains playing instruments like violins, glockenspiels, and xylophones, as well as redundant technology like floppy disk drives and old desk fans. Eight professional musicians from the Hallé Orchestra will perform live alongside the robots, with Steve Pickett, Education Director at the Hallé, having composed a special piece of music for the orchestra's launch.
The project is the first Citizen Science project of its kind, using discarded machines and technology. Over 200 primary and secondary school children participated in a Hack Day, where they built music-making robots in the Great Hall at the University's Sackville Street Building. Workshops led by partners like Apple, The Hive, Noisy Toys, and FabLab resulted in the creation of around 20 robots, including percussive devices like a Pringles cardboard tube drum.
The first rehearsal for the robot orchestra is scheduled for June 24, with the grand performance slated for July 24 during the Euro Science Open Forum in Manchester. After its Manchester debut, the robot orchestra plans to tour across the country with the support of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
Professor George, who was awarded the 2016 Royal Academy of Engineering Rooke Award for public promotion of engineering on 23 June, is passionate about inspiring people to use their skills to solve global challenges. The "Robotic Revolution" is a testament to her vision, bridging the gap between music, technology, and community engagement in a creative and accessible way.
A new Robots exhibition is scheduled for 2017 at the Science Museum, offering visitors a chance to witness this unique fusion of art, science, and technology firsthand. The UK Robotics Week, currently underway (from 25 June), provides an ideal backdrop for this innovative project, as it celebrates the advancements and potential of robotics in our daily lives.
Science and technology are intertwined in the unique Robotic Revolution project, led by Professor Danielle George MBE, which aims to encourage education and self-development by transforming discarded machines into a robotic orchestra. This citizen science project, currently on display at the Euro Science Open Forum in Manchester, also showcases the potential of technology in music, art, and community engagement.
