Q: What kind of equipment is used to control the Amorphic Robot Works machines?

A: The machines are controlled via MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) using Max and Studio Vision Pro software from Opcode Systems running on Macintosh computers. Valves, motors, and solenoids are activated by MIDI command through one of several kinds of "midi to control voltage" output boxes.

Long musical sequences are created and edited in Vision, which is the master sequencer for the show. Keyboards, and other triggers (including a Dimension Beam spacial controller) are used to record sequences. They are then edited like a regular song. Live "jamming" and performance can also be accomplished while the master sequence is playing.

Some machines, such as Super Dog Monkey, Skeletal Reflections, Growing Raining Tree, Too Big Dog Monkey, and the new series of Inflatable Body sculptures have position feedback signals so that their control computers "know" where they are. These machines are controlled by custom MAX patches running on a separate computer, or by a standalone onboard computer.

MAX and Studio Vision programming have been done by Brian Kane, Stock Plum, Geo Homsy, Frank Hausman, Matt Daly, and Marc 9. Shows and rhythms are designed by Chico MacMurtrie.

The input devices, computers, and output controllers are linked together by a multi-port MIDI translator. The computers send commands through the translator to different MIDI-to-voltage controllers which send 24-volt signals to the hydraulic and pneumatic valves, motors and solenoids which move the machines. Some machines have on-board controller computers.

Q: Has this always been the case?

A: In historical context: the first ARW computer-based show controller, based on a New Micros 6811-based board, was built by Rick Sayre; Rick, Geo Homsy and Phillip Robertson wrote shows, such as The Trees Are Walking and Trigram, a Robotic Opera for this controller in the Forth language.

For the first installation of the Floaters, Michael Fogarty wired and programmed an industrial relay board on a PC in C.

For a Tyko Drummer installation in Chicago, Adam Savage programmed a handmade timer/counter/EPROM circuit.

The first MIDI-capable controller was designed and programmed by Geo Homsy.   Enhancements and expansions to this basic "George Box" by Stock Plum resulted in the Stock Box, Stock Jr, and Geck controller, which included proportional PWM output and analog servo loops.

For JoJo Belimbau Bowing Drummer, Frank Hausman built a 16-channel "George" box, as well as standalone (no Mac) 6811 C controllers for Rope Climber and Telescoping Totem Pole for use in gallery installations, with environmental sensors and preprogrammed behaviors.

Since 2000, large-scale show control (Amorphic Landscape) and closed-loop servo control (Skeletal Reflections, Tree) has been performed by industrial PC-based computer systems using Measurement Computing I/O boards, Mediamation HRBOX/ShowFlow software and Opto22 quad solid-state-relay modules.

A new series of standalone Feisty Children sculptures are controlled by onboard microcomputers with environmental sensing for interactivity.

If you would like to see and download a sample MAX patch used to control the Super Dog Monkey, click here.