Robot lovers are already practising their moon walks and ‘pops’ for the official Guinness World record attempt at Melbourne University, but organiser Marita Cheng denies the effort smacks of being a nerd.
“Actually, I’m more of a geek.”
The third-year Carlton mechatronics engineering student has already locked in 400 robot dancers, but wants to hit 1000 to make sure the quirky world mark stays here.
The current world record is held by the University of Kent in the UK, which convinced 276 dancers to perform a robotic “Macarena”.
But Ms Cheng promises Melbourne’s effort will be a lot funkier.
Ms Cheng and her cohorts are part of Robogals, a non-profit group of young engineering undergraduates teaching robotics to schoolgirls to lift the profile of science in schools.
Ms Cheng’s dream is to make robot housekeepers for future homes.
“Basically, I’m really lazy and I like the idea of having a robot so you don’t have to do it yourself.”
Essendon’s “Robotgirl” Arna Singleton is charged up about the chance to show the way for robot newbies, after 13 years perfecting her own technique.
She says robot moves are all about “controlling your body in a unique way”.
“You’ve got to think about your muscles as an ‘inner-movement’ rather than a large movement, so you can give the look and feel of being non-human.”
The trick is practising your “tension release and contraction”, says Robotgirl.
Meantime, Robotgirl says the event is a big day for robot girls like herself.
“This is crazy. Not only is it putting robotics and popping out there, but also it’s about putting girls out there in a dance style they’re not often involved in,” she says.
Robogals organisers say men are welcome as part of the record attempt at Melbourne University on Tuesday, September 29 from 12pm.