For videos of these robotic instruments in action, see: Music for Robots
Tremolo-harp
The Tremolo-Harp is a twelve-stringed robotic instrument, where each string is actuated with a DC vibration motor to produce a mechatronic “tremolo” effect. It was inspired by instruments and musical styles that employ tremolo as a primary performance technique, including the hammered dulcimer, pipa, banjo, flamenco guitar, and surf rock guitar.
CADI (Configurable Automatic Drumming Instrument)
Configurable Automatic Drumminc Instrument (CADI) consists of modular robotic striking arms that can be positioned to hit any object. The original version of CADI was created with Troy Rogers and Scott Barton of Expressive Machines Musical Instruments (EMMI). V1.1 was designed and built at Rutgers University.
Expressive Machines Musical Instruments (EMMI)’s Instruments:
EMMI is a robotic musical instrument collective that I co-founded with Troy Rogers and Scott Barton. We are dedicated to designing, building, and composing music for original robotic instruments. For more information, visit: www.expressivemachines.com.
Click here for a list of my original compositions for these instruments.
PAM (Poly-tangent Automatic multi-Monochord)
PAM is a robotic string instrument with 16 fretting solenoids, picking and damping mechanisms, and a hand-wound electromagnetic pickup. PAM was the first instrument designed and built with Troy Rogers and Scott Barton as Expressive Machines Musical Instruments (EMMI).
MADI (multi-Mallet Automatic Drumming Instrument)
MADI is a robotic snare drum instrument with 15 individual striking arms. Each arm is made from a different material to allow for timbral variety. MADI was created with Troy Rogers and Scott Barton of Expressive Machines Musical Instruments (EMMI).
MARIE (Monochord Aerophone Robotic Instrument Ensemble)
MARIE is a robotic instrument ensemble consisting of CARI: Cylindrical Aerophone Robotic Instrument, a robotic clarinet-like instrument (left) and AMI: Automated Monochord Instrument, a robotic string instrument (Right). Sound on CARI is produced through a compression driver coupled to a cylindrical tube with 19 solenoid-controlled tone holes. AMI consists of 12 fretting tangents, picking and damping mechanisms, and an electromagnetic bowing mechanism. Both AMI and CARI feature LEDs to visualize the instruments’ movement, and onboard audio mixing circuitry. Each AMI-CARI pair can also operate as an interconnected hybrid instrument, allowing for novel effects such as a “plucked air column” or “blown string.” MARIE was built with Troy Rogers and Scott Barton of Expressive Machines Musical Instruments (EMMI).
TAPI (Transportable Automatic Percussion Instrument)
TAPI is a travel-ready, robotic percussion battery consisting of two woodblocks, two cowbells, and a chime built into a vintage 1970s briefcase. The instruments are equipped with contact mics that allow direct amplification and processing of the acoustic sound. TAPI was created with Troy Rogers and Scott Barton of Expressive Machines Musical Instruments (EMMI).
