TEDTalks: Robotic Machinations Season 1 Episode 19 Bruno Maisonnier: Dance, Tiny Robots!

Bruno Maisonnier is the founder and CEO of Aldebaran Robotics, a company focused on developing humanoid robots that can interact with humans in life-like ways. In this episode of TEDTalks: Robotic Machinations, Maisonnier discusses his latest project: tiny dancing robots.

Maisonnier begins by showcasing the capabilities of his company's flagship product, the Nao robot. Nao is a humanoid robot that stands at just over two feet tall and can walk, talk, and perform a variety of tasks. Maisonnier explains that Aldebaran Robotics developed Nao as a way to bring robots into daily life and make them more accessible and useful to people.

But Maisonnier wasn't satisfied with just creating a robot that could perform practical tasks. He wanted to see if he could create a robot that could dance. And not just any dance - he wanted his robot to perform the tango.

To achieve this, Maisonnier and his team developed a set of tiny robots that could be programmed to dance the tango in unison. Each robot measures just a few inches in height, but they are powerful little machines. They have multiple sensors and advanced algorithms that allow them to move with precision and grace.

Maisonnier demonstrates the capabilities of these tiny robots by showing a video of them dancing the tango. The robots move in perfect sync, twirling and stepping with precision that is almost mesmerizing to watch. Maisonnier explains that the robots were programmed to follow a specific set of dance steps, but they also have the ability to improvise and make adjustments based on their surroundings.

Maisonnier believes that these tiny dancing robots have many potential applications, both in entertainment and in industry. He envisions them being used to teach dance or to perform precision tasks in manufacturing settings. He even suggests that they could be used in healthcare settings as a form of therapy.

Throughout his talk, Maisonnier emphasizes the importance of creating robots that can interact with humans in a natural way. He believes that robots should not just be tools or machines, but should be treated more like companions or assistants. He sees a future where robots are integrated into many aspects of daily life and work, and hopes that his company can help bring about this vision.

Overall, Maisonnier's talk is a fascinating exploration of the intersection between robotics and art. His tiny dancing robots are a testament to the incredible potential of robotics technology, and his vision for a future where humans and robots can coexist in harmony is both inspiring and thought-provoking.