Distributed Control in a Mechatronic Musical Instrument

Drawing on concepts from systemics, cybernetics, and musical automata, this paper proposes a mechatronic, electroacoustic instrument that allows for shared control between programmed, mechanized motion and a human interactor. We suggest that such an instrument, situated somewhere between a robotic musical instrument and a passive controller, will foster the emergence of new, complex, and meaningful modes of musical interaction. Adopting a practice-led research approach, the development and design of one such instrument—Stringtrees—is described. The design process reflects the notion of ambiguity as a resource: The instrument was endowed with a collection of sensors, controls, and actuators without a highly specific or prescriptive model for how a musician would interact with it.