This piece focuses on representing the dynamics of a mentor/mentee relationship using simple robots performing a simple task: playing the piano. The performance is a series of call-and-response piano playing: the mentor plays a note and is expected to have the same note played back by the student. However, not every note is perfect, and tensions start to rise when the student plays wrong notes (accidentally, and also intentionally). Here we explore a sort of rivalry that appears between a strict teacher and a rebellious student.

The focus of this piece is on robot behavior. The robots themselves have simple design so as to bring more attention to their actions in the context of the piece. Making the robots strike keys slowly, quickly, and in varying patterns gives a sense of character to each machine, and in framing an entire performance we hope to be able to convey a multitude of emotional responses from both robots.

Our current direction will take the form below:

The piston allows for more dramatic changes in key pushing speeds than a rotating joint and is less complicated than a slider joint.

The robot will either slide along a rail to each key, or will drive freely with wheels.

In terms of what we are going to use to build this, the only special mechanisms we will need are pistons and a rail system or wheels. Other pieces will be simple beams, either wood or steel.

As a back up plan, we will revert back to the simulation and make the simulation as realistic and life-like as possible, as well as work on the audio effects of the simulation.