In an event held at the South Korea National Theater on June 30th, once again, the advancement of technology in the world of art was showcased. Android robot EveR 6 and conductor Soo-Yeoul Choi led the performance of six pieces with the South Korea National Symphony Orchestra. This extraordinary show introduced EveR 6 as South Korea's first robot conductor. #Robotics #aicrypto

Introduction of the Robot Conductor:

EveR 6 is a robot developed by KITECH (Korea Institute of Industrial Technology). This robot has a humanoid face, head, two arms, and a neck region and has been trained using motion capture technology. Through sensors that digitally record the movements of the conductor's baton, the robot has been trained and programmed to carefully follow the speed of the baton.

Preparation Process:

Prior to the event, a promotional video was released on the theater's YouTube channel, providing some insights into the rehearsal and training process. The video explained EveR 6's abilities and preparation process.

Performance and Communication:

Alongside EveR 6, Soo-Yeoul Choi shared the stage and co-conducted the performance. Choi emphasized the real-time interaction and communication as the most challenging aspects within a musical context involving robots. Particularly, he pointed out the "critical weakness" of EveR 6, which is the lack of listening ability. However, Choi also highlighted that the robot could perform with much more detailed movements than expected. During the concert, Choi and EveR 6 took turns conducting three out of the five pieces and presented one piece together.

Audience Feedback:

There were different opinions among the audience members. One viewer named Lee Young-ji praised the robot's ability to maintain the rhythm but noted a "lack of breath" in the robot and suggested that there is further potential for development. Another audience member, Song In-ho, mentioned that the robot delivered a basic-level performance and stated that with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) systems, it could better understand and analyze music.

Summary:

This remarkable performance stood out as a first in South Korea. Previously, Honda's robot named Asimo performed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 2008. Similarly, in 2017, a robot named YuMi conducted a performance in Switzerland. Such events showcase the progress at the intersection of technology and art. After the concert, Soo-Yeoul Choi mentioned that this show demonstrated how robots and humans can complement each other and coexist.