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About

Manjinder Singh Benning is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of music technology, robotics, and artificial intelligence, with a primary focus on North Indian classical music. His most influential work, “Integrating hyperinstruments, musical robots & machine musicianship for North Indian classical music” (2007, 22 citations), introduces a groundbreaking system that enables real-time human-robot musical collaboration. Benning transforms a traditional acoustic sitar into a hyperinstrument, embedding sensors to capture performance gestures, which are then analyzed by a custom-built four-armed robotic percussionist. This work not only extends the expressive possibilities of classical music but also establishes a framework for machine musicianship in non-Western traditions. In related research, “Multimodal Sensor Analysis of Sitar Performance: Where is the Beat?” (2007, 5 citations), he develops a multimodal signal processing approach to detect tempo using both instrument-mounted and wearable sensors, offering novel insights into rhythmic analysis. Benning’s contributions are notable for their cultural sensitivity and technical innovation, bridging ancient musical practices with cutting-edge robotics. His work has inspired further exploration into interactive performance systems, making him a key figure in the growing field of robotic musicianship and hyperinstrument design.