Tuesday, Aug. 04, 2009

Worth an Encore

Toyota Motor Corporation's robotic violinist, introduced in 2007, is a 5-ft.-tall (1.5 m) humanoid with an uncanny ability to play the violin. The robot uses its arms, along with their 17 computer-controlled joints and agile fingers, to hold the instrument and press its delicate strings. The robot violinist is the latest addition to Toyota's ensemble of musical robots, which can play the trumpet, trombone and other instruments.