Spare Pack

“Spare Pack” imagines the future role of robots in society and sees them not just as tools, but as active participants in social interactions, developing around the idea of play as a learning method. The public can interact with robots in a playful way and change the perception of these machines beyond their conventional role. This engagement fosters a connection between humans and robots and blurs the boundaries between the participants.

“Spare Pack”, a pack of five robotic dogs that invite interaction with the audience. Visitors can manoeuvre amongst these robotic creatures and interact with them to explore the nuances of human-robot interaction. The installation thus serves as an experimental landscape that promotes familiarity and social acceptance of robots taking on social roles. It becomes a platform for immersive learning and envisions a future where robots seamlessly integrate into our social fabric and transform our collective experiences.

When you enter the exhibition space, you are immediately struck by the sight of a pack of robot dogs. The whirring and humming of their mechanical movements fills the air and mixes with the ambient sounds of the exhibition space, creating a surreal and otherworldly atmosphere. The movements of the robot dogs react to those of the visitors and create an interactive and dynamic experience. They roam freely, sometimes coming close only to retreat again, imitating the behaviour of a real pack of animals. The installation explores the intersection of technology and nature and challenges preconceived notions of what is “natural” or “alive”. Although the robotic dogs are clearly artificial, they evoke a sense of life and agency and provoke thought about the evolving relationship between humans and technology.

AATB is the collaborative practise of Andrea Anner and Thibault Brevet, both graduates from ECAL. Having previously worked on interactive objects and installations, they encountered an industrial robotic arm three years ago. This crystallised an ongoing research around human/machine interactions and led them to investigate the potential of robotics and industrial automation to exist outside the realm of factory floors.

Their practise involves a tight connection and understanding of manufacturing processes, ranging from software programming, electronics to mechanical engineering and precision machining. Reflecting on the dissemination and assimilation of robotics into mundane activities, their work critically explores novel situations arising from these shifts. The studio is currently based between Zurich and Marseille.

Their work has been exhibited in institutions such as ZKM (Karlsruhe), V&A (Dundee), Ars Electronica (Linz), Chengdu Biennale (Chengdu), New Museum (New York), Venice Biennale of Architecture, Zollverein (Essen), Unfold X (Seoul), APS Museum (Shanghai), HEK (Basel), Istanbul Design Biennial, Milan Design Week, Museum für Gestaltung (Zürich). They have been awarded the Swiss Design Award.