Drexel will teach six robots how to dance

Drexel University has recently received three HUBO robots from Korea, which will learn to dance.The robots were designed to walk upright without support; here they will be programmed to get funky with it.”Robots right now aren’t very good at sensing and reacting,” said Dr. Youngmoo Kim, director of Drexel’s Music and Entertainment Technology lab. “Robots are very good at doing what you tell them to do.”

These robots will be outfitted with improved cameras and microphones, and more sophisticated software that will recognize rhythm and phrasing, and move accordingly.”They are actually listening to the music,” Kim said. “If the music changes they will follow along and still track the rhythm.”Three more robots will arrive by the end of the year, at which time they will be looking for prom dates.