On February 28, at “New National Theater” in Tokyo, Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro of Osaka University announced the new model of the android “Alter” 「オルタ３」. The robot performed a fragment of the “Scary Beauty” android opera by Keiichiro Shibuya.
Alter 3 is part of a new Artificial Life (Alife) research project. The goal is to explore the future of human communication, and new forms of entertainment. Mixi Corporation, Tokyo National University, Osaka University, and Warner Music Japan Co. Ltd are behind the project.
A challenge of this research is to answer fundamental questions such as whether the robot can acquire a view of life on its own by interaction with the outside world, and through this, what is life.
“Alter 3” is a humanoid robot with a bare body exposing the machine inside, a face without age or sexuality. It was created by roboticist Hiroshi Ishiguro of Osaka University and Mixi Corporation. It is embedded with an artificial neural network developed by artificial life researchers of the University of Tokyo.
Unlike the two “Alter” models so far, Alter 3 has an improved expression around the mouth for singing, expressive ability, human sensing systems, vocalization function from the mouth.
In addition, immediacy of body expression was improved and dynamic movement became possible.
ALTER3 android: improvements
The past models of the Alter robot performed in Australia and Japan along with a chamber orchestra. In the Japan premiere in 2018, the android has conducted and sung while the orchestra played the music under its baton.
The lyrics, melody and number of bars were input into the android beforehand, but it had no concept of BPM, so the conducting motion will be generated in real time.
“Japan’s ‘Scary Beauty’ Android Opera is a Metaphor for Our Relationship with Tech” (billboard.com)
Alter 3 Project – 2019 Program
- March 13 – May 2019 Performances, Exhibitions at the Hi – Robot! Mensch Maschine Festival in Dusseldorf, Germany
- March 13 Android · Opera “Scary Beauty” Festival Opening Performance (Düsseldorf / Robert-Schuhmann-Saal)
- March 15th – 17th Preview Exhibition (Düsseldorf · NRW Forum)
- March 28th – May 5th “Körperwende – von Nam June Paik bis Hiroshi Ishiguro ” at the Düsseldorf NRW Forum
- May 16 – August 26, 2019 “AI: More Than Human “Exhibition (at the Barbican Center, London, UK)
- After September 2019 Android · Opera” Scary Beauty “Performed in several countries worldwide
In addition to the above, various activities starring ALTER 3 will be planned from now on.
Hiroshi Ishiguro, is one of the leading researchers of human-like robot research. Check our article on Mindar, the buddhist robot created by the same scientist.
