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This incredibly complex 'sculpture' can play the violin

This incredibly complex 'sculpture' can play the violin

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All too often we forget just how complex and precise the human body is. But just one look at the Ro-Bow will put it all in perspective. The violin-playing "kinetic sculpture" is the work of retired National Institute of Health mechanical engineer Seth Goldstein, and calling it intricate is an understatement.

A tabletop worth of gear to replicate a hand

The device takes up just about an entire desk full of actuators, rotors, pulleys, and computer chips just to try and mimic the human hand and arm. The computer accepts audio files played from an electronic keyboard and then attempts to replicate the sounds with the violin.

The results are impressive, though they won't make any professional violinists jealous. In addition to holding down the strings in the right spots and sweeping the bow across the instrument, the machine can pull off some more impressive moves like pizzicato and vibrato. You can check out more in the video above, though if violins aren't you're thing, you may want to take a look at some of Goldstein's earlier work, like the Why Knot.