The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra’s (CPO) Christmas program will feature a curiously distinguished, tech savvy guest this year, courtesy of Toyota: a trumpet playing robot.
On December 12-14, as part of Happy Holidays from the Pops, Toyota’s mechanical maestro will take the stage at Music Hall, solo, to perform Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo, of Cinderella fame.
It will also accompany Erich Kunzel and CPO in two medleys, which include classics like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Joy to the World and Jingle Bells.
Singing, dancing, a chorus, puppets and a bell choir will also carry the show along.
This unlikely trumpet whiz stands 4 feet 9 inches tall and plays through masterfully engineered artificial lips, which imitate the vibrations that come from a human mouth, and lifelike lungs.
Although the precocious robot comes bearing the gift of music this holiday season, trumpet virtuosity is just one of its manifold capabilities.
Toyota began pursuing the robotic frontier, first with industrial robots in the 1970s, and more recently with their Partner Robots from the mid-1990s. Since 2000 Toyota has clarified and expanded their vision for what their Partner Robots stand to offer society.
Ultimately, Toyota envisions a line of robots that will play a role in creating a more livable society by assisting in manufacturing, nursing and healthcare, housekeeping and personal mobility.
This vision is particularly suited to Japan, where an aging population and decreasing birth rate requires creative solutions, such as Toyota’s partner robots, which will fill in the gaps left by the dwindling workforce.
To reserve tickets or learn more about this unique performance, click here.
Writer: Jonathan DeHart
Source: Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
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