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The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) in Taiwan and the University of Art and Design Linz (UfG Linz) in Austria paves the way for an exciting exchange of ideas, creativity, and technological expertise between two seemingly distinct domains – art and robotics.
The partnership between ITRI, a government-owned research powerhouse, and UfG Linz, an institution renowned for its creative endeavours, may seem unconventional. However, in today’s rapidly evolving world, the boundaries that once separated disciplines are blurring, giving rise to innovative and unexpected collaborations. This MoU exemplifies Taiwan’s commitment to pushing the envelope of technological innovation and creativity, showcasing its prowess on the global stage.
Jen-Chieh Cheng, the General Director of ITRI’s Service Systems Technology Center, underscored the institute’s ongoing dedication to bridging the gap between technology and art. Since 2019, ITRI has been actively fostering partnerships not only with artists but also with public and private sectors.
These efforts have been instrumental in exploring the convergence of technology and art. A notable highlight of this collaborative journey has been the involvement of a prominent player in the robotics field. This collaboration played a pivotal role in yielding remarkable robotics-based artworks throughout the project, demonstrating Taiwan’s technological prowess.
One stellar example of this symbiotic engineer-artist collaboration is the international success story of new media artist Yen-Tzu Chang’s media dance performance, “Mirage Replicas 2.0.” This captivating performance made its debut at the 2023 Ars Electronic Festival in Linz.
It was a visual and auditory spectacle that left audiences mesmerised. What makes this performance truly groundbreaking is its foundation in ITRI’s Automated Vehicle with Smart Multi-Directional Sensing Cyber-Physical Display System.
This innovative system seamlessly integrates cyber-physical fusion displays, real-time interaction technology, and automated mechanical systems. In other words, it merges the realms of art and technology, bringing together the elegance of dance with the precision of machinery. The result is a stunning masterpiece that pushes the boundaries of what is possible when creativity and technology converge.
Erik Aigner, the Vice-Rector at UfG Linz, expressed his enthusiasm for future cooperation with ITRI, highlighting the pivotal role that technology and resource exchanges will play. The goal is to facilitate groundbreaking robotics applications at the crossroads of art, science, and industry. This collaboration promises to open up new avenues for innovation, unlocking the potential for artists and engineers to work hand in hand, pushing each other to explore uncharted territories.
Reports added the role of their AI-powered collaborative robot series, the TM AI Cobot, in this extraordinary partnership, was used to complete the signing of the MOU. But beyond this symbolic gesture, the collaboration envisions its robots playing a vital role in realising artistic aspirations that will arise from the cooperation between ITRI and Creative Robotics (CR), a dedicated research unit within UfG Linz focused on arts-based and industrial research in robotics.
The TM AI Cobot is not just a piece of machinery; it is a bridge between the worlds of art and technology. Its precision and adaptability make it an ideal companion for artists seeking to push the boundaries of their craft. By embracing this technology, artists can explore new dimensions of creativity, enhancing their artistic expression and blurring the lines between the tangible and the ethereal.
