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Robo-Maestro Takes Baton

Posted May 14, 08 3:27 PM CDT in Arts & Living,  Technology 

(Newser) – It was classical music, but when the Detroit Symphony Orchestra hit its final note last night, it sounded an awful lot like the future. Honda’s Asimo robot led a real, live, human orchestra, and though the android was only repeating the recorded movements of a human, the performance went beautifully, impressing the musicians and delighting the crowd, the Guardian reports.

“I'm worried that they'll teach it to multitask,” said Yo-Yo Ma, the evening’s star soloist. Asimo can already do more than conduct. The robot strode confidently onto the stage yesterday, waved to the crowd and said, “Hello, everyone!” Asimo can walk, run and recognize faces. Honda hopes models like him will someday work as companions for the elderly or crossing guards for kids.

Sources Guardian (UK), Detroit Free Press

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Honda's ASIMO robot conducts the Detroit Symphony Orchestra as it performs "Impossible Dream" during a concert in Detroit, Tuesday, May 13, 2008.   (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Honda's ASIMO robot conducts the Detroit Symphony Orchestra during a program in Detroit, Tuesday, May 13, 2008. ASIMO will conduct Mitch Leigh's "Impossible Dream."   (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Cellist Yo-Yo Ma, right, greets Honda's ASIMO robot after it conducted the Detroit Symphony Orchestra as it performed "Impossible Dream" during a concert in Detroit, Tuesday, May 13, 2008.   (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Honda's ASIMO humanoid robot readies itself or its big debut.   (AP Photo)
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Detroit • Honda • classical music • robot • orchestra • conductor


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