This workshop provides a critical retrospective and forward-looking discussion about an NSF-funded project that studied the science and engineering behind creating and controlling robotic puppets. The project explored multiple dimensions of the challenge, such as the sequencing and composition of controllers and the integration of meaning with kinematically and dynamically distinct systems. This effort required a diverse team of researchers, artists, and industry professionals.
Participants will hear from the principal investigators and supporting researchers about the project’s outcomes, new research directions, and spin-offs that emerged from this unconventional approach.
A highlight of the workshop will be a fun, hands-on puppetry tutorial led by a professional puppeteer. This session will demonstrate how puppeteers design movement, develop scores for puppetry plays, and create meaningful performances using both scripted and improvisatory movements.
The workshop will also feature an interactive panel on current research collaborations at robotics labs that leverage the arts and interdisciplinary approaches across various use cases, including music, dance, architecture, and healthcare.
Student researchers will have the opportunity to present their work, share ideas, and network with like-minded researchers. The day will conclude with a summative breakout session, where participants will synthesize the discussions and insights shared throughout the event.
This workshop is specifically targeted at interdisciplinary robotics researchers who are interested in collaborating with partners from the arts, fostering connections that bridge technology and creativity.
