Circus performer Daniel Simu has turned a pandemic experiment into an international stage career, touring worldwide alongside an acrobatic robot named Robin.
Trained at circus schools in Rotterdam and London, Simu began exploring motors and 3D printing when live shows stopped during the pandemic.
His first attempt involved installing a motor in the shoulder of a shop mannequin to attempt a handstand, though an arm quickly snapped off.
Simu went on to build four successive models, spending two full years on the current machine and another two years developing the live performance.
Predictability and mechanical risks
Named after the character from Bassie and Adriaan, Robin the Acrobot can walk and complete partner acrobatics.
The machine lacks knees, which makes its movements simpler and more predictable than modern fluid robots, giving Simu the confidence to lift it and use it as a dance partner.
That predictability also comes with real hazards during shows.
Because the machine cannot communicate faults, parts such as the plastic shoulders can break suddenly without warning.
A breakdown can be dangerous when the heavy machine stands directly on top of Simu’s head, and issues have also cropped up with programming and connections.
Research and future machines
Simu has also begun testing an industrial robotic arm as a juggling assistant, though he notes it currently tends to drop balls.
His goal is to create a machine capable of real-time improvisation that responds to live stage cues like a human partner.
Alongside touring, Simu is collaborating with TU Delft on research into attaching soft materials to robots.
He expects to continue designing new devices as public perceptions of robotics shift.
If you’re inspired to start tinkering on creative projects of your own, take a look at our guide to hobby groups and makers in The Hague.
