We happily announce that the ́s u p e r V i V o Evolution ́ has won the first prize in the Freestyle Exhibition discipline of this year’s RobotChallenge, and therewith catapulted Austria on third place in the national assessment.
The RobotChallenge is Europe’s biggest robotics competition. The competition of 270 robots from 16 countries was attended by 4000 visitors.

“Im Rahmen der “Freestyle Exhibition”, jener Disziplin, in der jährlich außergewöhnliche und kuriose Roboter präsentiert werden, konnte ein österreichisches Team mit dem insektoiden Roboter “supervivo” die Jury überzeugen.”
28. März 2011, derStandard.at

“Eine der beiden Gold-Medaillen erlangte der Roboter “supervivo” für Österreich. Der Insekten-Roboter auf Bambus-Beinen konnte sich in der Disziplin “Freestyle Exhibition” durchsetzen.”
28.März 2011, die Presse.com

The ́Blubber ́ is a rooting device in which the branches are kept in perfect rooting and growing conditions. The ́Blubber’s ́ nutrient solution is enhanced with a rooting hormone from willows. The water is enriched with oxygen with an air-pump in order to prevent the water bath from turning into a dead zone. When listening carefully you can hear the water bubbling (German: blubbern) and therefore this device was named ́Blubber´.

View superViVo graze in a larger map

60 shoots were collected from five different plants (Cornus sanguinea, Salix caprea, etc.) at the Donauinsel in Vienna. The GPS coordinates of the shoots’ place of origin were documented; the branches were marked and indexed.
We are currently still searching for further specimens to propagate, so if you know a suitable plant – we would gladly take your advice!

In order to evaluate the ´ideal´ plant and ´ideal´ motor for the ´inner conflict´, a fully automated evaluation device, referred to as ´Dipper´ in the following, was constructed. The ´Dipper´ tests the plants in regards to their robustness, growth, and rooting. The ´Dipper´ simulates the later movement of the robots by dipping the shoots into moist earth and then pulling them out again in regular intervals.
The aim of the evaluation is to determine equal opponents in order to ensure a fair competition. During the evaluation process data that influences the behavior and health of the shoots (e.g. temperature, humidity of the air and earth, light intensity, amount of the ‘Dipper’s´ dipping), as well as data on rooting and growth is collected and captured statistically.
In addition, the evaluation device serves as test environment for the long-term video and photo documentation for the later showcasing.

The first robots or walking mechanisms were developed after the DIY principle (Do It Yourself). Robots from the B.E.A.M community were copied and adapted. A step-by-step development from simple circuits to a neuronal network has been imitated. Each added electric or mechanic component lets the robots climb higher on the evolutionary ladder (see illustration) and makes it more intelligent. In the end the robot exhibits insect-like behavior by being able to react to its surroundings independently (dodging obstacles, following the light, etc.).

The project ´s u p e r V i V o´ is an artistic and scientific experiment, which develops, realizes, tests, documents and analyzes cybernetic plants in three adjacent cycles.

Three robots are built within the three-stage experiment. Traditionally, the legs of robots are mechanic, but in this project they are replaced by branches of extremely fast growing plants (e.g. willow, bamboo or dracaena).

The ´internal´ conflict of the three “cyborgs” (Cybernetic Organism) is staged publicly in the ´s u p e r V i V o – Arena´. The playing field is changed according to each act and bears lethal or vital zones for each “cyborg”.

The first robot operates without programming: It consists of a combination of simple circuits, which navigate it according to a preset pattern. Its organic legs work against the mechanism’s movement by rooting and sprouting. In the second part of the experiment the robot’s movement is influenced by two entities: on the one hand it is steered by community networks, on the other hand it is governed by the organisms, which want to settle down – literally set down roots. In the third act, the manipulation by the community is omitted, which neutralizes its ambivalence and only the plants remain to govern over the robot according to their needs.

Scene One: ´Organism versus Mechanism´
First generation of the three-stage experiment

A solar powered robot with live willow, bamboo or dracaena offshoots (fast rooting and robust plants) as legs is built in this act. Thus, the plants are expanded by mechanical motor activity on the one hand, and on the other hand the machine is expanded by organic components. Both entities are driven by controversial ‘instincts’: The machine strives to stay in motion, but the plants urge to settle down. By conjoining both, a unit fighting itself is formed.

The play ground for this schizophrenic’s inner conflict is the ´s u p e r V i V o – Arena´. This dramatization determines which of the two artificially constructed, allegedly symbiotic, components succeeds over the other.

Scene Two: ´Organism versus Society´
Second generation of the three-stage experiment

A new test object, which is developed on the basis of its predecessor, is injected with ‘intelligence’. An Arduino board replaces the simple circuits. The internal communication of the plants / legs is measured, interpreted, and modified to commands. Hence, the plant controls its mechanical ‘body’. The ‘community’ operates as counterpart to the organic ‘intelligence’ and steers the hybrid via Twitter. An schizophrenic/split creature, an intelligent chimera is born, which is controlled by the organism and its creators – humans.

Scene Three: ´The cybernetic Organism´
Third generation of the three-stage experiment

In the last scene of the trilogy a self-sustaining cybernetic creature is created, which is only governed by the organic intelligence. The hybrid only moves in order to find the perfect spot for the organisms to put down roots. A ‘self-sustaining’, ‘self-determined’, cybernetic creature emerges and must prove itself in the arena.

s u p e r V i V o – ´The Rise of the Cybernetic Plant´ | Erkin Bayirli and Philip Fischer | Vienna, Juli 2010