YuMi, the world’s first truly collaborative dual-arm robot, has made its debut at the opera by conducting Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and the Lucca Philharmonic Orchestra at the Teatro Verdi in Pisa, Italy, after being invited by Mr. Bocelli.
Among the guests was ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer, under whose leadership YuMi was developed. The unique demonstration showed what can happen when advanced robotics meets the arts.
YuMi is the first robot ever to conduct an orchestra. The two-armed robot made its debut at the Pisa’s Verdi Theatre alongside Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. The robot was designed by robotics leader ABB and trained by Italian conductor Andrean Colombini. Colombini held the robot’s arms during rehearsal, allowing YuMi to memorize the correct gestures. The performance was part of Italy’s “First International Festival of Robotics”.