Creating an orchestra of robots
In the heart of the UK's ongoing Robotics Week, Professor Danielle George MBE, a distinguished engineer and educator at the University of Manchester, is set to present her groundbreaking robot orchestra project as part of the European City of Science celebrations. The orchestra, a unique fusion of robotics and music, will make its grand debut at the Euro Science Open Forum on July 24.
Professor George was awarded the 2016 Royal Academy of Engineering Rooke Award for her exceptional public promotion of engineering. The Rooke Award, bestowed by the Royal Academy of Engineering, recognises engineers who have made significant strides in increasing public understanding of engineering. The robot orchestra embodies this mission, using a creative platform to communicate engineering concepts in an accessible and engaging manner.
The orchestra will feature a diverse array of robots, including those crafted from recycled electronics and junk, playing instruments such as violins, glockenspiels, xylophones, and more unconventional items like floppy disk drives and old desk fans. It will showcase the work of five-year-old primary school children and 75-year-old inventors alike, underscoring the project's purpose to inspire interest in science and engineering across all ages.
The orchestra's first rehearsal is scheduled for June 24. Steve Pickett, Education Director at the Hallé Orchestra, has composed a special piece of music for the launch and will provide eight professional musicians to perform live alongside the robots. Siemens is building a special robot conductor named 'Graphene' to keep the other robots in time.
The project is an ambitious extension of a pilot version assembled for the 2014 Royal Institution Christmas Lecture titled "How to hack your home." In addition, a new Robots exhibition is planned for 2017 at the Science Museum.
At a recent Hack Day, almost 200 primary and secondary school children built music-making robots in workshops led by partner organisations. The orchestra aims to encourage more people to tinker, make, and consider a career in engineering. It also seeks to demonstrate the potential of reusing discarded machines and technology for environmentally responsible purposes, marking the first Citizen Science project of its kind.
After its Manchester debut, the robot orchestra plans to tour across the country with the support of the Royal Academy of Engineering. This innovative and educational endeavour promises to captivate audiences and inspire a new generation of engineers.
The robot orchestra, a fusion of robotics and music, is set to be an educational platform for science and engineering concepts, showcasing the work of individuals from various ages and backgrounds. It is part of Professor Danielle George's mission to increase public understanding of engineering, a mission recognized by the Royal Academy of Engineering's Rooke Award.
