A life-size robotic lion dance system with integrated motion control

This paper describe an implemented robot lion dance system, developed by a multi-disciplinary team of researchers over the past three years. We aim to use advance robotic technology to develop a mechatronic system that can perform life-size lion dancing with the traditional lion dance outfit. We intend to experiment the fusion of traditional art form and robotic technology so as to stimulate people´s interest in the disappearing traditional art form and folk lords, and give new meanings to the new art form. The robot employs an event design of the robotic lion head, upper and lower body and methodology of conveying robotic lion dance into robotic lion motion. In this paper we will first describe the design concept and the architecture of the robot lion. Secondly, we will describe in detail the workings of the robotic lion dance choreography and motion control to mimic a life size lion dancing. Lastly, this paper will highlight three key challenges that were faced during the design of the robot to mimic the actual human lion dance.