Dances with Robots: VR

For ON DISPLAY GLOBAL 2024 I collaborated with Hortense Gerardo (APT Program), Amy Eguchi, and Joe Unger and Trisha WIlliams (Maveric Studio) for a new performance with robots DANCES WITH ROBOTS: VR. (Ghost Ride the Headset)

This project features:

CRANE, an xArm7, a co-robotic arm from UFACTORY with a portable Robotics and Performative AI Workstation, and a custom creative robotics software stack. This 7 degree of freedom (DOF) articulated robot arm has integrated force and temperature sensing and interactive programming modes. CRANE was operated in the VR space by ROBERT TWOMEY. CRANE is represented in the VR space by a floating, legless, avatar.

PEPPER a social humanoid robot from United Robotics Group (former Sotfbank Robotics), and is capable of recog- nizing faces, facial expressions/basic human emotions. Pepper was optimized for human interaction and is able to engage with peo- ple through various sensor inputs (touch, voice/sound, and vision). It can also carry out prescripted conversations based on human inputs using voice recognition technology. PEPPER was operated in the VR space by AMY EGUCHI. PEPPER is represented in the VR space by a small, humanoid robot.

HORTENSE GERARDO, Director of the Anthropology, Performance, and Technology (APT) Program at the University of California, San Diego. HORTENSE is represented in the VR space as a human, female avatar.

The VR space, Grove of the Matriarchs, was designed by Trisha Williams of ORIGAMI AIR, and recorded at the MAVERIC Studio on November 7, 2024.

Documentation