Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the development of a humanoid robot capable of drumming, highlighting its potential in creative tasks and the innovative approach taken by a research team from SUPSI, IDSIA, and Politecnico di Milano to explore this capability [1][2]. Group 1: Project Background - The "Robot Drummer" project was inspired by a casual conversation about the role of robots in music, leading to the exploration of drumming as an ideal domain due to its rhythmic nature and physical coordination requirements [3]. Group 2: Technical Development - The humanoid robot utilizes reinforcement learning algorithms to learn drumming skills, gradually acquiring human-like behaviors typical of drummers [2][5]. - The team employed MIDI as the "language" of music to accurately encode timing and dynamics, allowing the robot to interpret and perform drumming patterns based on MIDI transcriptions [6][8]. Group 3: Challenges and Solutions - The project faced three main challenges: timing precision, spatial coordination, and dynamic adaptation to varying rhythms and intensities [6][8]. - To address these challenges, the researchers developed a "Rhythmic Contact Chain" system, enabling the robot to learn through a series of timed contact events, enhancing its ability to perform complex drumming tasks [8]. Group 4: Performance Evaluation - The robot was tested on over 30 popular songs across various genres, including tracks from Linkin Park and Bon Jovi, to assess its timing, coordination, and ability to handle complex rhythms [9][10]. - The evaluation metrics included F1 scores, with results showing the robot's performance achieving over 90% rhythm accuracy and demonstrating human-like strategies in drumming [10]. Group 5: Future Prospects - The long-term vision for the robot drummer includes its integration into live performances and the ability to improvise and adapt its playing style in real-time, similar to human drummers [11].

Group 1 - JD.com announced a significant investment of over 10 billion yuan in the smart robotics sector, aiming to assist 100 robot brands in achieving sales of over 1 billion yuan each within three years [1][3] - The company plans to facilitate the commercialization of smart robotics by providing a zero-threshold entry service for partners, connecting over 600 million consumer users and 8 million enterprise users through various platforms [1][3] Group 2 - A breakthrough in smart breeding has been achieved with the development of the world's first automatic cruising hybrid pollination breeding robot, which significantly reduces breeding costs and time while improving efficiency [2][4] - This innovation integrates biotechnology and artificial intelligence, creating an "intelligent breeding factory" capable of rapidly customizing superior crop varieties [2][4] Group 3 - A collaboration between EPFL and the Max Planck Institute has resulted in a highly mobile centimeter-level swimming robot, featuring a unique driving mechanism that allows for efficient movement in complex environments [3][7] - The robot can move at a speed of 5.1 cm per second and can turn at an astonishing angular velocity of 195 degrees per second, demonstrating its agility [3][7] Group 4 - The Chengdu Humanoid Robot Innovation Center has released the world's first AI neural network electronic skin, which offers unprecedented sensitivity and precision for humanoid robots and medical monitoring applications [4][11] - This electronic skin can detect forces as low as 0.005N, equivalent to the touch of a feather, showcasing its advanced capabilities [4][11] Group 5 - Researchers from SUPSI, IDSIA, and Milan Polytechnic have developed a robotic drummer capable of performing various musical styles with over 90% rhythm accuracy, indicating advancements in robotic performance capabilities [5][16] - The robot utilizes a machine learning system to master complex drumming patterns, paving the way for robotic performers to join live music bands [5][16]