UCLA Students Create Innovative Self-Playing Piano Capable of Unique Performances
How Two UCLA Engineering Students Built a Self-Playing Piano That Can Do the Impossible
University Of California, Los Angeles
Image: University Of California, Los Angeles
UCLA engineering students Karina Bender and George Grigoryan developed a self-playing piano that can simultaneously play all 88 keys. Their project, which took months of design and testing, showcases the integration of mechanical and electrical engineering, culminating in a performance of the complex piece 'Rush E.'
- 01The project was initiated in fall 2024 and involved extensive planning, prototyping, and problem-solving.
- 02Bender and Grigoryan designed a system that can play all 88 keys at once, a feat not seen in other self-playing pianos.
- 03The duo used MIDI files to control the piano, employing solenoids to strike the keys from below.
- 04Their first successful performance of Chopin's 'Revolutionary Étude in C Minor' marked a significant milestone in their project.
- 05The self-playing piano is set to be showcased at the Open Sauce science fair in San Francisco.
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Karina Bender and George Grigoryan, engineering students at UCLA, have successfully created a self-playing piano capable of playing all 88 keys simultaneously, a unique feature not found in other designs. Their project, which began in fall 2024, involved significant planning and engineering challenges, including designing an electrical system that could handle the power demands of all keys being played at once. They utilized MIDI files to control the piano, employing solenoids to strike the keys from underneath. After months of prototyping and problem-solving, they achieved a breakthrough when the piano played Chopin's 'Revolutionary Étude in C Minor' for the first time. The project culminated in a dramatic demonstration of all keys being struck simultaneously while playing the complex piece 'Rush E,' which is physically impossible for a human to perform. Bender and Grigoryan plan to showcase their work at the Open Sauce science fair in San Francisco, and they have documented their process in a detailed instruction manual for future improvements.
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This innovative project showcases engineering creativity and serves as an educational tool for future students.
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