Waseda Flutist

Details

The Waseda Flutist is a robot that can play a flute just like a human can. It has lungs, a mouth, and a tongue that are closely modeled on human organs, and it's technically proficient, albeit robotic.

Creator: Waseda University
Country: Japan 🇯🇵
Year: 2011
Type: Humanoids, Research

Creator: Waseda University

Country: Japan 🇯🇵

Year: 2011

Type: Humanoids, Research

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Images

This robot toots its own flute.

Photo: Waseda University

Videos

Saxophonist and flutist robots perform a duet.

Video: Waseda University

Waseda Flutist learning to improvise.

Video: Waseda University

Waseda Flutist performs the "Flight of the Bumblebee."

Video: BotJunkie

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Did You Know?

The full name of the robot is Waseda Flutist Robot No.4 Refined VI, or WF-4RVI.

The robot can track the fingers of a human musician and change its own playing to match.

The Waseda Flutist can also act as an instructor, providing feedback to human students to help them improve.

Specs

FEATURES: Equipped with actuators that mimic human lips, lungs, and tongue. Capable of processing visual and aural cues when playing with human musicians.
HEIGHT: 170 cm | 66.9 in
LENGTH: N/A cm | N/A in
WIDTH: N/A cm | N/A in
WEIGHT: 150 kg | 330.7 lb
SPEED: N/A km/h | N/A mph

SENSORS: Two CCD cameras, air pressure sensor, air flow sensor, optical encoders, force sensors, microphone.
ACTUATORS: DC motors, AC motors, and a harmonic drive.
POWER: N/A
COMPUTING: Three computers (one for controlling the robot, one for generating the accompaniment MIDI data, and one for processing data from the CCD cameras).
SOFTWARE: Linux OS. Custom control software.
DEGREES OF FREEDOM (DOF): 41
MATERIALS: Oral cavity, vocal cord, and lips made of Septon thermoplastic rubber; tip of the tongue mechanism made of gel; lung system made of acrylic; fingertips made of RTV silicone rubber.
COST: N/A
STATUS: Ongoing
WEBSITE: http://www.takanishi.mech.waseda.ac.jp