A developer using the name MegCell has built a robotic system capable of playing a standard guitar, and plans to eventually assemble a complete orchestra of similar machines.
The project was shared in the Arduino and ArduinoProjects communities on Reddit, where MegCell posted video of the system and described its technical details in the comments. The device runs on 28 servo motors, each responsible for individual strings.
MegCell said one of the hardest challenges was selecting and precisely tuning the servos to achieve a natural sound. The robot can already pluck strings with varying force, and work on refining its technique is ongoing.
The system does not rely on pre-programmed sequences. Instead, it reads compositions in MusicXML format and converts them into commands covering string pressing, fingerpicking, and pick play. Strumming is also supported, though those algorithms are still being refined.
Once work on the guitar is complete, MegCell plans to adapt the technology to other instruments, with a fully robotic band capable of performing any MusicXML composition as the ultimate goal.
