Breaking myths and complementing artistic and creative endeavors with robotic arms seems to be creating a trend.
We have heard opinions about technology integrated into the creative arts, there are those who say that technology cannot replace the instinct for the artistic gift of creating, others believe that new technologies are collaborative tools for an artist. In short, there are many points of view and all very valid. Here we have another perspective on artisan manufacturing.
Charlotte Nordmoen, a student at Central Saint Martins, has developed a robotic potter as part of the HumanMADE project. This robotic arm is a model capable of generating creative designs in ceramic.
The system created by Charlotte consists of a machine learning algorithm that generates its own creations. The software collects images of vases and cups and then analyzes and combines their shapes and contours to later sculpt them; This work is carried out by a small industrial robot that has an integrated “human silicone finger”, which shapes the objects captured by Charlotte’s program.
The artist makes it clear that she is not trying to replace the work of a potter, she only designed the prototype of the robotic arm as an assistant who will prepare the mixture and perform maintenance.
Nordmoen said: “The project is not intended to be a serious proposal to put potters out of work, but rather a way of asking questions. Her aim is to go beyond the practical aspect of technological unemployment and ask herself what happens if a robot takes on the role of craftsman ”.
Nordmoen created the robot as part of Material Futures MA and displayed it at the Central Saint Martins end-of-the-year fair.
It is important to remember that this is a prototype, this means that the robot does NOT have a feedback system that identifies errors when the object is poorly made, or the way to optimize their manufacture over time.
This project is a clear example where this type of creative art can be seen automated. However Nordmoen, is clear that to reach a level of automated for this type of task is unlikely. Today, technological innovation is based on economic incentives.
For the moment, this artisan robot still needs the intervention of human hands. Maybe this causes different opinions but to those who see it as another technological advance, used in the creative arts.
Finally, automation will continue to boom and will continue to be incorporated into everyday tasks. many times for good and sometimes not much.