About Ulrike Quade

Photo: Transketeers

Sprints

Agile research

Throughout the project, we channelled our ongoing curiosity into fortnightly sessions, which we called sprints. A sprint is a focused working session of about 2.5 hours in which an interdisciplinary team delves into a specific topic, theme or test. Each participant brings insights from their own area of expertise and personal interest in the research topic.

The aim is always to advance artistic research with robotics and explore new forms of art with robotics. The outcomes of these sessions are the result of a dynamic exchange between autonomous art, robotics, academic research and puppetry.

One of our main goals is to gather and share knowledge. The sprints provide an open space to explore new ideas and foster potential collaborations.

‘Yesterday’s puppets are tomorrow’s robots’.

The industrial robots we work with are taken out of their traditional environment and integrated into theatre and art environments, allowing us to experiment with their ability to enrich these areas.

During these sessions, first ideas often develop into prototypes, reflections, concepts or foundations for larger projects in theatres and museums. In short, the Sprints are not only a space for producing knowledge, but also for exploring possible collaborations and future projects at the intersection of robotics and art.

Partners

News

Human-robot interaction: Floriade

4 December 2024

We presented the performance installation for Floriade, consisting of the 4.5-metre-high bar puppet Alex, animated by two black hydraulic KUKA robotic arms.

Mens-robot interactie: intimiteit van betekenisgeving

4 December 2024

We borduurden voort op de vorige sprint over stem en geluid van KUKA-robots en richtte zich op literaire vorm en de uitvoering van literaire teksten. Sjaan Flikweert presenteerde gedichten en voordrachtsequenties in interactie met de KUKA-robot.

Human-robot interaction: how does a robot speak?

4 December 2024

This sprint focused on the voice and sound of robots, we explored the meaning of voice and sound as a medium in the context of performing arts and other creative practices.

Human-robot interaction: safety and improvisation

4 December 2024

We focused on the manual manipulation of KUKA robots within the performing arts. This poses specific safety challenges, as the robots have a lot of power and become less predictable when operated manually.

Human-robot interaction: care in performance art

4 December 2024

We explored the theme of care in human-robot interaction. In the process, circus artist and performer Daniel Simu entered into a unique dialogue with a KUKA robot.

Robot and puppetry: a unique interaction

29 November 2024

In the first sprint, we investigated how the puppet Madama Butterfly, based on the traditional Japanese Bunraku theatre, interacts with two KUKA robot arms of different sizes.

Photo: Kiriko Mechanicus

‘By bringing together science, technology and art, we are creating a powerful space for innovation – one that challenges societal norms and opens new perspectives on the issues that define our world today.’

– Ulrike Quade