Video: Arduino-based 'insecure, egotistical' robot band
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted Jul 31st 2009 5:37PM
posted Jul 31st 2009 5:37PM
One part gadget, one part art project, and 100% awesome, the Cybraphon is a MacBook powered, Arduino-based mechanical band housed in an antique wardrobe. Including an organ, cymbals, a motor-driven Indian Shruti box (played with 13 robotic servos, no less), and a gramophone, it relies on infrared motion detectors to sense when it has an audience. A number of factors, including the amount of attention it gets on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter, help the device determine its "mood," which in turn determines when the "band" plays, and what material it selects. According to one of the artist / inventors, the Cybraphon is a "tongue-in-cheek comment on people's obsession with online celebrity. We modeled it on an insecure, egotistical band." That's our favorite kind! And you know, the thing doesn't sound half bad. Check it out for yourself after the break.
EFFING BRILLIANT!
I can haz free time?
Now that is cool
Woahh.. I wish my dresser could do that.. Dresser/alarm clock hybrid
that was amazing
That looks like it would fit in quite nicely in my living room. I'll take two.
Put that thing on wheels and it will be ready for its close-up in an episode of "Futurama". Oh, and it sounds like it's doing a cover of "New Order". The perfect choice (or is that the Perfect Kiss?) for this project.
That is one of the most creative things I have seen in a long time. Well done!
I know a guy that owns something like this, except that it's controlled by an organ. Look up the wurlitzer, not very many left.
Next step: put several webcams inside it, give a live video feed that it edits itself. . .
It would go from being insecure to being egotistical, and everyone loves an egotistical robot, right? They're less likely to revolt if they already think they're better than us AND we don't tell them what to do.
*rereads after letting the page sit 20 minutes before watching the vid* It would loose it's insecurity and be primarily egotistical.
What...no Stylophone?
this reminds me of one of Letterman's notorious stupid pet tricks. Someone had taught his dog to chase its own tail on command, and it would respond to applause by running around faster. The thing got going, the audience applauded, the dog chased its own self faster, the audience's applause grew louder...etc. By the end the poor critter was running itself raw to try to satisfy the crowd, while most of the people kept going nuts anyway, oblivious. the music stops and everyone slowly realizes letterman's playing a mean trick on them. something like that. oh, yeah, this thing is terrific.
Don't forget to let Peter Jackson know this is available.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHiJy0awfjc
A little piece of me died when it stop playing.
Thank technology for reply.
*replay