Tech & Biz

Dance, Robots, Dance: Automated Music Personality

by Jordan Yerman | June 20, 2008 at 08:24 am

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One problem with being a carbon-based lifeform is the imprecision of our dance moves, and our inability to provide our own lighting effects. However, that is now no longer an issue, as robots have been developed to accompany us on the dance floor.

AMP is the result of a joint initiative between Tiger Electronics and Sega Toys to create the…er… ”future of music mobility”. The 29in-high machine connects to any MP3 player, thanks to a docking station in its back, and will quite happily pump out music doing dancing for you - without complaining that its feet hurt.

It has five basic moves: dance, track, drive, park and follow - although we’re not sure what move AMP would pull off if you asked it to do The Robot. Movement is based around Segway-style wheels that rely on a piezoelectric gyroscope.

AMP’s not just a one-trick pony though, because it also boasts over 62 different sound effects, knowledge of numerous “electrifying dance moves” and 49 expressive LED light animations.

But how well does it partner? The device requires remote control, which makes it all too easy for your friends to punk you. Still, I'd like to see it in a b-boy battle.

I'd kind of rather be a wallflower than dance with a robot, unless the robot had actual legs and could tango. That would be cool.

(The video depicts a wireframe animation of a breakdancing Transformer, if you must know)

1 See all footage | View Slideshow

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