In this thesis, the author explores and develops new attributes for machine performers and merges the trans-disciplinary fields of the performing arts and artificial intelligence. The main aim is to redefine the term “embodiment” for robots on the stage and to demonstrate that this term requires broadening in various fields of research. This redefining has required a multifaceted theoretical analysis of embodiment in the field of artificial intelligence (e.g. the uncanny valley), as well as the construction of new robots for the stage by the author. It is hoped that these practical experimental examples will generate more research by others in similar fields. Even though the historical lineage of robotics is engraved with theatrical strategies and dramaturgy, further application of constructive principles from the performing arts and evidence from psychology and neurology can shift the perception of robotic agents both on stage and in other cultural environments. In this light, the relation between representation, movement and behaviour of bodies has been further explored to establish links between constructed bodies (as in artificial intelligence) and perceived bodies (as performers on the theatrical stage). In the course of this research, several practical works have been designed and built, and subsequently presented to live audiences and research communities. Audience reactions have been analysed with surveys and discussions. Interviews have also been conducted with choreographers, curators and scientists about the value of machine performers. The main conclusions from this study are that fakery and mystification can be used as persuasive elements to enhance agency. Morphologies can also be applied that tightly couple brain and sensorimotor actions and lead to a stronger stage presence. In fact, if this lack of presence is left out of human replicants, it causes an “uncanny” lack of agency. Furthermore, the addition of stage presence leads to stronger identification from audiences, even for bodies dissimilar to their own. The author demonstrates that audience reactions are enhanced by building these effects into machine body structures: rather than identification through mimicry, this causes them to have more unambiguously biological associations. Alongside these traits, atmospheres such as those created by a cast of machine performers tend to cause even more intensely visceral responses. In this thesis, “embodiment” has emerged as a paradigm shift – as well as within this shift – and morphological computing has been explored as a method to deepen this visceral immersion. Therefore, this dissertation considers and builds machine performers as “true” performers for the stage, rather than mere objects with an aura. Their singular and customized embodiment can enable the development of non-anthropocentric performances that encompass the abstract and conceptual patterns in motion and generate – as from human performers – empathy, identification and experiential reactions in live audiences.

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Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-05-18T10:51:13Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Luciana Hidemi Santana Nomura - 2017.pdf: 47094098 bytes, checksum: fda7905c0d3d256429cac23f4c6f4784 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-05-18T10:53:05Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Luciana Hidemi Santana Nomura - 2017.pdf: 47094098 bytes, checksum: fda7905c0d3d256429cac23f4c6f4784 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-18T10:53:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Luciana Hidemi Santana Nomura - 2017.pdf: 47094098 bytes, checksum: fda7905c0d3d256429cac23f4c6f4784 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-17 / This research approaches theoretical and practical features of cyberarts, particularly Robotic Art and its contexts. Knowing that this field is constantly changing, because it is an artistic production anchored in a permanently evolving technology, the aim here is to question the possibility of artistic creation by robots, as well as to enunciate the aesthetic, reflexive and processual possibilities of robotic art. Therefore, the premise of the thesis is based on the contemporary production of art and on technological improvement, since part of the work in art and technology results from the collaboration between human artists and an intelligent software. In accordance with the theoretical study, the processes of creation, the experiments and the production techniques of Nefelibata 2.0 were reported. The poetic production induced the creation of one robotic cloud, which interact with the public in a kind of robotic performance. The framework of this study is supported by the proposition that robotic art can be created by humans, robots or symbiotically, not being limited by the technical use of robotics, once electronic creatures can be given artificial creativity, a behavior of their own and may interact with the public. Thus, the objectives of this study are to conceptualize robotic art, discussing its aesthetic, interactive and poetic aspects, to reflect upon the perspectives set up on the field of robotic art, as well as to ponder over artificial creation. / A presente pesquisa, de caráter teórico e prático, aborda o tema das ciberartes, em particular a Arte Robótica e seus contextos. Sabendo que este campo está em constante alteração, por se tratar de uma produção artística ancorada em uma tecnologia em permanente evolução, coube aqui questionar a possibilidade de criação artística por parte dos robôs, bem como enunciar as possibilidades estéticas, reflexivas e processuais da arte robótica. Sendo assim, a premissa da tese se fundamenta na produção contemporânea da arte e no aperfeiçoamento tecnológico, uma vez que em arte e tecnologia, parte das obras é resultado da colaboração entre artistas humanos e softwares inteligentes. Em consonância ao estudo teórico, os processos de criação, as experimentações e as técnicas de produção de Nefelibata 2.0 foram relatadas. A produção poética fomentou a criação de uma nuvem robótica que interage com o público em uma espécie de performance robótica. Assim sendo, os pressupostos do estudo apoiam-se na proposição de que a arte robótica pode ser criada por humanos, por robôs ou de forma simbiótica, não limitando-se ao uso técnico da robótica, uma vez que as criaturas eletrônicas podem ser dotadas de criatividade artificial, comportamento próprio e ainda dialógicas junto ao público. Logo, o estudo tem como objetivo conceituar a arte robótica, discutindo sobre os aspectos estéticos, interativos e poéticos; refletir sobre as perspectivas instauradas no campo da arte robótica, bem como ponderar acerca da criação artificial.

<p dir="ltr">This thesis explores the use of robotics technology to allow plants to dance. It researches the relationships between plants and dance, which is established via a dialog through technology. Plant-centric dance principles using Laban Movement analysis are then discussed and implemented through robotics and programmed choreography. Multiple pieces I developed were used to inform this new space for multimedia artwork. From this research, several implementations were made in the form of public dance performances.</p>