robotic rock installation sorts stones based on their geological age

robotic rock installation sorts stones based on their geological age
video courtesy of ex post / gif by designboom

artists prokop bartoníček and benjamin maus have realized a robotic apparatus that sorts and organizes river pebbles based on their geological age. ‘jller’ comprises a 2×4 meter platform and rotating mechanical arm, which picks up individual rocks with an industrial vacuum gripper and moves them to their ‘correct’ location. without human assistance, the device autonomously analyzes the stones and sorts them based on their type and age — eventually rendering the history of the river as a visible artwork.

rocks are picked up by an industrial vacuum gripper
video courtesy of ex post / gif by designboom

the machine extracts information from each stone, including color composition, and structural features such as lines, layers, patterns, grain, and surface texture. this data is used to assign predefined categories for each of the pebbles, which group the range of stones that can be found in a specific river together — thus corresponding to the age of the stone. this system is the result of a classification system that is trained by sets of manually selected and labeled stones. because there are only a limited number of types that can be found in a specific river, this system proves to be very accurate. the device continues this installation by processing the image of the stone and mapping its location on the platform, aligning them in various configurations. 

jller – prokop bartoníček & benjamin maus
video courtesy of ex post

the suction moves rocks to their ‘correct’ location on the platform 
video courtesy of ex post / gif by designboom

the device autonomously analyzes the stones and sorts them based on their type and age
video courtesy of ex post / gif by designboom

the machine extracts data and information from each stone
image courtesy of expost

stones were taken from the stream bed of the german river jller
image courtesy of expost

collected data assigns predefined categories for each of the pebbles
image courtesy of expost

‘jller’ has been presented as part of a collaborative exhibition of the two artists 
image courtesy of expost

via [colossal]