Vox Ex Machina
A robotic art machine that translates live opera vocals into visual art, built through a collaboration between the Drexel ExCITe Center and Opera Philadelphia.
Flagship Project | 2025
Follow along the development journey of Vox Ex Machina! The initial prototype was built during an interdisciplinary undergraduate class. The performance version was completed as an independent study via a collaboration between the ExCITe Center at Drexel University and Opera Philadelphia. The machine was featured at the Academy of Music for the 50th Anniversary Gala.
What I Built:
As lead electronics engineer and circuit designer, I designed a 3-axis motion-control system using NEMA 17 stepper motors driven by TMC2209 drivers connected to an Arduino Mega for synchronized multi-belt movement. The machine was integrated with Max/MSP 9 for real-time, audio-driven control, translating live vocals into the machine’s motion and visual output on stage.
Process:
The system went through multiple iterations: 3D modeling, breadboard circuit prototyping, and finally a permanent protoboard build rated for live performance conditions.
Outcome:
The finished machine performed on the main stage of the Academy of Music for Opera Philadelphia’s 50th Anniversary Gala.