AME - Disobedient Robots
Disobedient Robots is an ongoing artistic research practice that designs and builds robots as expressive, embodied subjects. At Notre Dame, this research group will focus on improving existing robots and building new ones in support of an evolving body of work, including an immersive performance currently in development.
One concrete near-term goal is developing or adopting a positioning system for choreographic purposes, allowing robots to move with precision in relation to each other and to performers in space.
Students will work hands-on across the stack, or specialize in an area of their preference, including mechanical assembly and repair, circuit and electronics work, sensor integration, and ROS2 programming for control and behavior.
This semester will start slowly, setting up our workspace and getting organized. We'll ramp up gradually, and expect to be more actively working with and on the robots themselves in the second half of the semester.
Students will participate directly in the build process, working independently on assigned tasks and meeting regularly in small groups to share progress, troubleshoot, and discuss both the technical and conceptual dimensions of the project.
Relevant links with photos/media:
This is one of the few places on campus where you can build real robots meant to move, express, and provoke. It sits at the intersection of robotics, sound, and performance, treating technology as something worth questioning through making.
It's also an early-stage, high-agency environment. You'll help shape the workspace, the workflow, and the direction of the robots themselves from close to the beginning, working alongside a growing robotics community at Notre Dame, including labs at the MRB.
The skills you'll build, including electronics, ROS2, sensor integration, and hands-on fabrication, are directly useful for engineering and robotics careers. The artistic and conceptual side offers a chance to think critically about the technology you're building.