_Albireo2.1 _ is a trio of robotic, bird-like creatures perched on top of poles, dancing, singing and chattering through the day. Wireless communication allows them to interact with each other improvisationally, both in motion and sound. Each is aware of its energy level as well as environmental variables and alters its behavior accordingly. They make different types of vocalization and respond to each other’s sound choices by making variations of the same sound or by choosing another type of sound or action. Over a period of time one can observe subtle differences in the behavior of these creatures and see and hear them interacting with each other. 

These creatures are hand-built by myself, with circuit boards of my own design, using Arduino microprocessors running my own code. The sounds are programmed from scratch with square waves generated by switching an output pin between 0 and 1. The timing of this cycle is modified algorithmically to form different categories of sounds, each with a certain envelope of parameters, but changing slightly each time the particular sound type is vocalized.
The soundscape created by these creatures is designed to interact comfortably within the overlap between urban sounds and those of nature. Powered completely by the sun, the creatures of _Albireo_ awaken to the sun with whistles and warbles, and at the end of the day they have a bit of a digital snore as they fall asleep.

Links: www.markmalmberg.com

Special thanks to Phil Stone and Foundation for Contemporary Arts for their support.

Mark Malmberg (US), born 1953, earned a BFA in sculpture from Carnegie-Mellon University in 1977. He entered the world of computer graphics in 1988 when he joined fledgling studio Xaos Inc. in San Francisco, California. Unique in its field, Xaos developed proprietary software to specialize in organic, fluid animation not otherwise possible at the time. In early 1989, Malmberg took the role of Creative Director at Xaos, which he held for ten years. Over the years, Malmberg has been recognized nationally and internationally for his animation design and directing work. Over the past decade he has returned to his roots as a sculptor. Pioneering a new sound/sculptural genre, he is currently producing hand-built solar-powered robotic mobiles.