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The four robots delicately drawing patterns in a bed of crushed black basalt in Tokyoâs Ueno Park move with such grace that they seem to be purpose-built. But when artist and technologist Jason Bruges acquired them for his work
The Constant Gardeners, the robots had already spent years working at a BMW factory in the United States.
âTheyâre foundry grade, so theyâd been welding, riveting, assembling cars,â says Bruges. âTheyâre having a nice little holiday in Tokyo by comparison.â
To bend the robots to his will, Bruges and his team âhacked the systemâ and wrote new computer code to direct their movements. Once stiff and precise, they are now elegant and expressive.