Robotic flutist gives flight

There is some competition building for places in the wind section of Asimo’s orchestra, the recent performance by a robotic clarinet was impressive enough but this flutist from Atsuo Takanishi adds another dimension.

This time we have a humanoid form pursing his lips rather than an unsightly collection of valves and tubes yet the designer has seen fit to leave he chest area exposed so we could see the artificial lungs in action.

The length of time each finger must press against the air valves combined with the pressure exerted on the mouthpiece and the amount of air which passes through all have an impact on the sound produced so the programming behind this task must have taken plenty of late night coding.

The result is a rather fine rendition of the trickiest piece in the book, “Flight of the Bumblebee” is hard enough to hum!

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