The robot can also improvise based on what it hears. The folks at Georgia Tech have been working on the improvisational skills of music robots for a while now, but it's easy to see why the feature is needed here. What's more, the robotic arm houses accelerometers to monitor distance and proximity to the kit and motors ensure the sticks remain parallel to the drumming surface. This means the apparatus is always in the correct position.

This isn't the first time researchers at Georgia Tech have tackled robotic drumming. In 2014, a team created a robotic prosthesis for a drummer who lost his arm in an accident. The success of that project inspired the creation for a smart arm device capable of turning anyone into a "cyborg drummer." To further boost the skill set, trials are underway that employ a electroencephalogram (EEG) headband to detect the drummer's brain patterns. That link would allow the arm to further become one with the user.

But what about other non-musical uses? Professor Gil Weinberg has thought about those, too. "Imagine if doctors could use a third arm to bring them tools, supplies or even participate in surgeries. Technicians could use an extra hand to help with repairs and experiments," he explained. "Music is based on very timely, precise movements. It's the perfect medium to try this concept of human augmentation and a third arm."