Cultures of Robotics Symposium

Robot Cultures is an interdisciplinary research initiative founded by the Digital Cultures Program and the Centre for Social Robotics at the University of Sydney.

The aim of this research initiative is to bring together academics from the sciences, arts and humanities, including scientists, engineers, theorists and artists to investigate the social, technological, aesthetic, institutional, economic and ethical dimensions of the social interaction of humans with robots.

The Cultures of Robotics Symposium is the first in a series of events organised to foster an interdisciplinary research community exploring the histories, philosophies and practices of robotics within contemporary culture. For this first event our invited keynote speaker is Professor Simon Penny (UC Irvine), renowned artist, theorist and professor in the field of robotic and interactive art.

SAILS -> Self-Assembling-Lighter-Than-Air-Structures

From http://sharedrobotics.com/

Project group: SAILS -> Self-Assembling-Lighter-Than-Air-Structures

Project Name: Tryphon

Authors: Nicolas Reeves, NXI GESTATIO Design Lab, University of Quebec in Montreal.

[Project engineer : David St-Onge].

1. Technic : The Tryphons are cubic aerobot of 2.25m side made of a carbon fiber structure. They are entirely autonomous. Equipped with a main computer brain, they can analyze data comming from many different sensors on the robots (light, ultrasounds, acceleration, compass, etc.) and after interpreting them send the appropriate commands to the motors. The robots may move freely in space, without any wire, only by the thrust of their brushless turbofans. The behaviour of the robots depends only on the programming preceding the performance and are limited only by the artist’s imagination.
2. Art : Since the beginning of the Tryphon (and before Mascarillon) project the creators’ choose to make use of the robots for artistic purposes. One of the first objective was (and still is) to be able to assemble many of those flying cube together in space as a 3D printer able to represent in reality architecture virtual models The idea linking cubes with architecture is far more important then their use or their complex carbon fiber structure. It relies in the basic concept of viewing a non aerodynamic object floating and evolving in space without any wires or any grounded equipement. As example of other performance’s possibilities let’s mention : floating projection screen over a crowd, autonomous robots acting with simple insect-like behaviour in restricted environment (pictures of Moscow), interaction with actors in theater. The team is actually working on the last one to present next year a 4 actors – 4 robots performance in Montréal (Canada).

The big picture 32 recent robot pix

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/03/robots.html

Humanoid robots Wakamaru, produced by Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industry, named Momoko (R) and Takeo (L) in the performace, take part in a drama for the world’s first robot and human experimental theatre, written and directed by Japanese playwright Oriza Hirata, at Japan’s Osaka University in Osaka, western Japan on November 25, 2008. (YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images) #

Classic Automata Film

top 12 videos of creepy automata
There is nothing more creepy than the charred remains of a moth eaten victorian doll with rolling eyes and moving limbs. That is the premise for the Oobject’s Halloween list, videos of the most creepy automata in action.

http://www.oobject.com/category/top-12-videos-of-creepy-automata/

The Hosts

The Hosts: A Masquerade Of Improvising Automatons extends Wade Marynowsky’s development of custom-built robotics and interactive, performative media. In this installation, Marynowsky explores roboticist Masahiro Mori’s theory outlined in The Uncanny Valley (1970), which suggests that in designing humanoid robots one should not aim for total human likeness, but for an alternative to an uncanny appearance.

Media artist/artistic director; Wade Marynowsky, Electrical engineer; Aras Vaichas, Programmer; Jeremy Apthorp, Lighting; Mirabelle Wouters Costume; Sally Jackson, Photos; Garth Knight.

14 August – 12 September 11am – 5pm (Tues – Sat) and evenings, 6:00 -8:00pm when Performance Space has other events on. Performance Space at the Carriage Works, 245 Wilson Street, Sydney.

http://marynowsky.net/

Joueuse de Tympanon – automate

kinetica-artfair London

Carnivorous art, man-animal-machine hybrids, mechanical drawing machines, subliminal installations, pole dancing robots, light sculptures and cybernetics are just some of the exhibits to be found at Kinetica Art Fair, the UK’s first art fair dedicated to kinetic, robotic, sound, light and time-based art which opens in London on Friday 27 February.

Kinetica Art Fair is developed by Kinetica Museum in partnership with P3 and supported by the Contemporary Art Society.

More than 25 galleries and organisations specialising in kinetic, electronic and new media art are taking part with over 150 exhibiting artists. The Fair will be like no other with living, moving, speaking and performing art.
The Fair provides unparalleled opportunities for the public and collectors alike to view and buy work from this thriving international movement and to participate in the programme of talks, workshops and performances.

http://www.kinetica-artfair.com/