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About

Michael Darling is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of music technology, human-computer interaction, and robotic musicianship. As a core member of the Machine Orchestra at the California Institute of the Arts, Darling helped create a groundbreaking ensemble that seamlessly blends human laptop performers with robotic musical instruments—a concept detailed in his most-cited work (51 citations). His major contributions include the development of the KarmetiK NotomotoN, a highly expressive, plug-and-play musical robot designed for both performance and education, and the MalletOTon, a modular mechatronic mallet system that enables flexible, extensible robotic instrumentation. Darling also established a pedagogical paradigm for musical robotics, introducing a curriculum that teaches the history and art of the field while guiding students in building custom solenoid-driven percussion robots. His work has directly influenced how robotic instruments are taught, designed, and performed, with cumulative citations exceeding 89. By making robotic music systems more accessible, modular, and education-friendly, Darling has helped shape a new generation of musicians and engineers who explore the creative potential of human-robot musical collaboration.