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Wearable Third Arm Gives Drummers Extra Robotic Rhythm (gizmag.com)

Zothecula writes: Thumping out as many drum beats in 60 seconds may get you a podium spot at the annual World's Fastest Drummer competition, but we'll take the full kit virtuoso playing of Cozy Powell, Philthy Animal Taylor or Mitch Mitchell any day of the week. When trying to emulate the fastest or the greatest on your bedroom bin-bashers, though, you'd be forgiven for wishing you had a third arm. Georgia Tech Professor Gil Weinberg and his research team may have the answer to your prayers. They've developed a drumstick-wielding wearable robotic limb that's able to respond to both the music being played and the movements of the player.

77 comments

  1. I, for one... by dfn5 · · Score: 1, Redundant

    ...welcome our new drumming robotic arm overlords.

    --
    -- Thou hast strayed far from the path of the Avatar.
    1. Re:I, for one... by bondsbw · · Score: 1

      Without the ability for the wearer to guide the third arm using thought alone, this is little more than a gimmick. It could more easily be pulled off by separate drums and arms with the same motion capture and computational mechanisms.

      And, as a drummer, I don't think I'd like a third arm even if I could guide it. Two hands and two feet are pretty much all I think my mind could handle, and be effective at playing.

      --
      All my liberal friends think I'm a conservative, all my conservative friends think I'm a liberal.
    2. Re:I, for one... by gstoddart · · Score: 2

      The robotic device is attached to a musician's shoulder and is reported capable of determining the layout of kit components and the direction and proximity of the human arms, thanks to built-in accelerometers, and change playing location accordingly. If the human arm moves to play a hit-hat, for example, the robot arm adjusts to play the ride cymbal, when the player paradiddles on the snare, the attachment moves to the tom at the side.

      So, I don't know about paradiddling or the like, bu tit sounds like it's got a little more built in smarts.

      It sounds like it's doing some of its own stuff without the user.

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      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    3. Re:I, for one... by bondsbw · · Score: 1

      Right, and who is to say that performing a paradiddle should always match up with moving to an 8th note rhythm on the ride? Real drumming is much more complex than such arbitrary mapping rules.

      Not to take away that this is a neat experiment and a lot of work was put into it. It's more of a showcase of what is possible than of a real technology that is useful.

      --
      All my liberal friends think I'm a conservative, all my conservative friends think I'm a liberal.
    4. Re:I, for one... by Dragonslicer · · Score: 1

      As a concert band percussionist, this would be awesome. We would finally be able to cover all 10 auxiliary percussion instruments that some pieces need.

    5. Re:I, for one... by bondsbw · · Score: 1

      If it were good enough, why not let it replace you as well?

      --
      All my liberal friends think I'm a conservative, all my conservative friends think I'm a liberal.
    6. Re:I, for one... by Dragonslicer · · Score: 2

      Because without legs, it can't push the timpani over to the auditorium.

    7. Re:I, for one... by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      My first though is why bother with robotics, why not simply put a sensor on your limbs hooked to a MIDI with drum samples?
      I can't imagine this has the sensitivity to play anything but regular hits, so there is no benefit to a physical strike of the drum.

    8. Re:I, for one... by gstoddart · · Score: 1

      It's more of a showcase of what is possible than of a real technology that is useful.

      If we waited until we had fully complete technology which solved a very specific problem universally regarded as "useful" ... we'd never accomplish a fucking thing.

      Nobody is saying this is going to replace drummers, but it is a new and novel application of robotics, with a degree of autonomy and smarts, and is more than just programming it into a drum machine.

      If all you're going to do is whine and kvetch it's not as complex as "real drumming", then you've probably missed the fucking point. :-P

      So, when you've built your AI drummer, you get to bitch. In the meantime, this likely advances the state of the art in at least a few ways.

      You might as well complain that a walking robot can't perform all forms of dance or compete in the Olympics, or that a self driving car can't compete in auto-racing -- if you're taking an all-or-nothing approach, you'll never accomplish anything.

      Believe it or not, science is incremental. And stuff like this grows out of what the researchers know and want to look into.

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  2. Zaphod, is that you? by Ann+O'Nymous-Coward · · Score: 1

    How's your ski-boxing coming along, frood?

  3. Why Bother making it an arm? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is there really a reason to attach this directly to the drummer? Just put it in some more convenient location that doesn't get in the drummers way and let them control it by the same mechanism. I know.. proof-of-concept, other-applications and all that.

    1. Re:Why Bother making it an arm? by Archangel+Michael · · Score: 1, Insightful

      why hit a "drum" when you can simply program a computer and fully synthesize it?

      --
      Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
    2. Re:Why Bother making it an arm? by OzPeter · · Score: 1

      why hit a "drum" when you can simply program a computer and fully synthesize it?

      Why program a computer to synthesize it when you can just sample it?

      --
      I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
    3. Re:Why Bother making it an arm? by Pseudonymous+Powers · · Score: 1

      why hit a "drum" when you can simply program a computer and fully synthesize it?

      Why program a computer to synthesize it when you can just sample it?

      Why bother sampling it when you can just claim it was yours in the first place, and issue a DMCA takedown request for it?

      (Note: This may only work if you're Sony or one of the other three corporations remaining in the world.)

    4. Re:Why Bother making it an arm? by gstoddart · · Score: 1

      Oh, there will always be more than 3 corporations .. how the hell do you think they'll play shell games with the money to claim they weren't profitable.

      You can't do Hollywood accounting if you don't have shell corporations to juggle the money around.

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    5. Re:Why Bother making it an arm? by Archfeld · · Score: 1

      That would make it sort of like this ??

      http://www.rolandus.com/blog/2...

      That is how the 'less' talented make up speed and flourishes and other bonus sounds are added to the traditional percussionists array.

      Not to impugn anyone's' skills as I can't even manage the 2 arms I've got to produce a constant rhythm.

       

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      errr....umm...*whooosh* *whoosh* Is this thing on ?
    6. Re:Why Bother making it an arm? by Longjmp · · Score: 1

      Not to impugn anyone's' skills as I can't even manage the 2 arms I've got to produce a constant rhythm.

      But with one hand you can? Yeah, thought so.

      (Sorry, but that was sooo much an open door, I couldn't resist ;)

      --
      There are fewer illiterates than people who can't read.
    7. Re:Why Bother making it an arm? by PPH · · Score: 1
      --
      Have gnu, will travel.
    8. Re:Why Bother making it an arm? by cayenne8 · · Score: 1

      Why program a computer to synthesize it when you can just sample it?

      Because at that point, you remove all musical talent from the creation....and become a rapper.

      ;)

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    9. Re:Why Bother making it an arm? by Archfeld · · Score: 1

      Yep, I pat her on the back of the head with one hand to help keep time, but it doesn't seem to extend duration much.

      BTW Don't apologize for a good joke, If the subject, in this case me can't take it, then I shouldn't be posting here in any case...

      --
      errr....umm...*whooosh* *whoosh* Is this thing on ?
    10. Re:Why Bother making it an arm? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why have a singer when you can simply program a computer and fully synthesize it as a leek-wielding anime girl?
      (Hatsune Miku is made by Crypton Future Media and powered by Vocaloid technology from Yamaha Music Corporation.)

    11. Re:Why Bother making it an arm? by Lotana · · Score: 1

      You have just gave me a perfect example how unique (and from my perspective: weird) Japanese culture is. Never heard of Hatsune Miku thing before. ... Thanks.

  4. Phone Arm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The other day, everyone I saw walking had their phone in their hands. I could see something like this as being something a lot of people would buy to free up their actual hands.

    1. Re:Phone Arm by lhowaf · · Score: 1

      Yeah, that sounds great. Scratch your ass and get your phone robotically implanted.

  5. Third Leg by Java+Commando · · Score: 1

    I've got a natural third leg. Does that count?

    1. Re:Third Leg by B33rNinj4 · · Score: 1

      Yes.

    2. Re:Third Leg by ls671 · · Score: 1

      Me too, but it only works for drumming when my girlfriend parades nude in front of the stage.

      --
      Everything I write is lies, read between the lines.
    3. Re:Third Leg by drpimp · · Score: 1

      My third leg always hammers those butt bongos

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      -- Brought to you by Carl's JR
    4. Re:Third Leg by digitig · · Score: 1

      This is Slashdot. Nobody believes any of us has a girlfriend.

      --
      Quidnam Latine loqui modo coepi?
    5. Re:Third Leg by reboot246 · · Score: 1

      Only if it reaches the ground like mine.

      They calls me "Tripod"!

  6. Hit or miss? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's a bit Zaphod.

    I prefer a one-armed drummer with foot pedals

    1. Re:Hit or miss? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      See, this is something I don't like on this site.
      I posted this while not logged in. Had a bit of trouble with all the captcha nonsense, so actually posted successfully a couple of minutes later than I was ready for.
      Then a logged in used posts 1 minute later than me, making the same point, linking to the identical wikipedia page, and gets moderated up to +5.
      Yet here's my post (post early and often) still sitting here at 0.
      AC can be relevant - often we are users (maybe from the early days) just not logged in right now.

  7. Rick Allen by JonahsDad · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Or second arm in the case of Rick Allen

    1. Re:Rick Allen by The-Ixian · · Score: 1

      Damn, I knew someone was going to bring this up.

      Armageddon it!

      --
      My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
    2. Re:Rick Allen by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's exactly what I came here to say!

  8. Drum Machine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wouldn't it be easier to use a digital drum machine?

    1. Re:Drum Machine by ls671 · · Score: 1

      Indeed

      --
      Everything I write is lies, read between the lines.
  9. nice by hypergreatthing · · Score: 2

    A robotic third arm?
    When can i get a robotic third leg?

    1. Re:nice by ls671 · · Score: 1

      Get a sex change into a man.

      --
      Everything I write is lies, read between the lines.
  10. Which department? by sjbe · · Score: 2

    They've developed a drumstick-wielding wearable robotic limb that's able to respond to both the music being played and the movements of the player.

    Shouldn't this be from the solving-problems-that-aren't-problems-department?

  11. Stupid by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    As a drummer, this is worst idea ever.

    Fast is not talent. Fast is not musical, creative, or in good taste.

    Fast is pretty much just cacophony, no different than a garbage truck emptying a dumpster.

    1. Re:Stupid by cayenne8 · · Score: 1
      What?

      They left Keith Moon out of the list.

      When he wasn't passing out from animal tranquilizers at a concert...in his younger days he was amazingly fast.....

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    2. Re:Stupid by The-Ixian · · Score: 1

      Oh, whatever... double bass makes any song 2x as good and you know it...

      --
      My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
    3. Re:Stupid by Sir_Eptishous · · Score: 1

      As a drummer, this is worst idea ever.

      Fast is not talent. Fast is not musical, creative, or in good taste.

      Fast is pretty much just cacophony, no different than a garbage truck emptying a dumpster.

      It depends on the genre and band.
      Someone like Dave Lombardo shows how speed is used to great effect.

      --
      We play the game with the bravery of being out of range
    4. Re:Stupid by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As a drummer, this is worst idea ever.

      Fast is not talent. Fast is not musical, creative, or in good taste.

      Fast is pretty much just cacophony, no different than a garbage truck emptying a dumpster.

      Agreed that fast ALONE is not any of the above. But utilized the right way, fast is amazing. I'm very impressed with some of the stuff Mike Mangini has done in Dream Theater.

    5. Re:Stupid by Joce640k · · Score: 1

      I always wondered why drummers spend years practicing and building up enough stamina to be able to do that.

      Surely all you need is an Arduino, a foot switch and some sort of linear actuator to move the pedal.

      --
      No sig today...
  12. Not fair by gregsmac · · Score: 1

    They already get more ass than the base player, now they get an extra arm??

    1. Re:Not fair by Sir_Eptishous · · Score: 1

      They already get more ass than the base player, now they get an extra arm??

      What is a "base player"? A Ft. Hood Giggolo?

      --
      We play the game with the bravery of being out of range
    2. Re:Not fair by gregsmac · · Score: 1

      Well played!!! *bass

  13. Octopussy Riot! by Tablizer · · Score: 1

    nuf sed

  14. Lulz by koan · · Score: 1

    Strap-on.

    --
    "If any question why we died, Tell them because our fathers lied."
  15. The one-armed drummer from 1964 by destinyland · · Score: 2

    In the 1960s there was a garage band called The Barbarians. Their drummer only had one hand, but he held the drumsticks on the other side using a two-finger hook. One of the most inspiring things I've ever seen in my life is the video of an auditorium of teenagers screaming enthusiastically when he launched into his drum solo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

    1. Re:The one-armed drummer from 1964 by destinyland · · Score: 1

      By the way, that band bears more than a little resemblance to the Ramones, which isn't a coincidence. The Ramones were big fans of the group, and actually namechecked the drummer -- "ol' Moulty" -- in their song "Do You Remember Rock 'n Roll Radio" (produced by Phil Spector).

  16. nah by raind · · Score: 1

    No thanks,unless it can play a shuffle, swing or otherwise kick a band in the ass.

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    Get up!
  17. It would be better if... by JustNiz · · Score: 1

    it could actually play in time.

  18. All thes drummers.. by wbr1 · · Score: 1

    ..and no mentions of Peart, Carey or even Bonham?

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    Silence is a state of mime.
    1. Re:All thes drummers.. by PPH · · Score: 1

      .. or Mick Shrimpton, Eric "Stumpy Joe" Childs, Joe "Mama" Besser or Chris "Poppa" Cadeau?

      --
      Have gnu, will travel.
    2. Re:All thes drummers.. by wbr1 · · Score: 1

      This one goes to 11.

      --
      Silence is a state of mime.
    3. Re:All thes drummers.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Two words - Ginger Baker

    4. Re: All thes drummers.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Two more words: Carl Palmer

  19. Already have it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I already have a third arm and I don't need to wear it.

  20. What's next? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A third leg?

  21. Moties by Megane · · Score: 1

    So you could say it's like... a gripping hand?

    --
    #naabhaprzrag, #sverubfr-000, #agi-fcbafberq, negvpyr[pynff*=' negvpyr-ary-'] { qvfcynl: abar !vzcbegnag; }
  22. Monkey Drummer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  23. Extra robotic rhythm? by Sperbels · · Score: 1

    Extra robotic rhythm? Or turns them into a Rube-Goldbergian Drum Synth.

  24. can you say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "poorly written"? five lines of fail.

  25. Pantera already sung about this by chthon · · Score: 1

    It was called "Use my Third Arm"!

  26. Because.. by Simulant · · Score: 1

    ..more Cowbell!

  27. What? by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 1

    Thumping out as many drum beats in 60 seconds may get you a podium spot at the annual World's Fastest Drummer competition

    As many as what? 60? That's one a second. That's... not very fast.

    --
    systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
  28. All the better to play triplets with by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sorry, but this sounds like a stupid idea. I can't imagine any self-respecting drummer showing up with a robot arm strapped on to help him/her play.

  29. Rick Allen by andrewa · · Score: 1

    I wonder if Rick Allen of Def Leppard is sitting up and taking notice of this technology...

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    :(){ :|:& };:
  30. Or a triathlete with only 3/4 of an arm . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  31. Expanding to wind instruments? by modi123 · · Score: 1

    Is this expanding to other instruments like, say, the wind section? I wouldn't mind a third hand to help with my skin flute practice! Zing!

  32. Not news by nospam007 · · Score: 1

    All the drummers I know had 3 arms, when girls were around even 5.

  33. Wrong! by s.petry · · Score: 1

    Rick Allen is a drummer, and a rather incredible story. Drummers, real drummers, see drumming as a pure body effort. This third "robot" arm is no different than using a drum machine. It's no longer the body doing the work, it's a machine.

    Watch Mike Portnoy, Mike Mangini, Neil Peart, John Bohnam (videos obviously), etc.. etc.. they use both arms and both legs with incredible precision for an incredible effect. I don't think Rick was ever that caliber drummer (miracles are not that common) but before the accident he used both arms and both legs too. He didn't swap to a drum machine afterward, because he knows what "drumming" is to a "drummer". He retrained his body so that his feet do more than most drummers can do with their hands.

    I have played for 45 years myself, so yes I have an opinion and yes I'm biased. I have little respect for bands that use artificial drums. A person with a robotic arm would be a novelty at best, and a joke to a real drummer.

    --

    -The wise argue that there are few absolutes, the fool argues that there are no probabilities.

  34. Yeah by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Maybe non gods could play laser cannon deth sequence now