A group of researchers from Switzerland and Italy has been working on something that sounds like the plot of a sci-fi movie: a humanoid robot that can keep rhythm like a human drummer. The project is a collaboration between SUPSI, IDSIA, and Politecnico di Milano, led by Asad Ali Shahid and Loris Roveda.

It started as an off-hand question in conversation: could a robot follow a beat the way a person does, without relying on rigid, pre-set loops? From that spark, the team began developing a new approach built around what they call a “rhythmic contact chain.”

This system goes beyond a simple metronome. It tells the robot not only when to strike but also which drum to hit and how to move between hits efficiently.

For the build, they chose the Unitree G1 humanoid robot. Before letting it loose on a real kit, they ran it through extensive simulations, testing it against more than 30 songs. The playlist covered a lot of ground: jazz staples like Dave Brubeck’s Take Five, rock favorites such as Linkin Park’s In the End, and crowd-pleasers like Bon Jovi’s Livin’ on a Prayer.

In those tests, the robot consistently maintained a timing accuracy above 90 percent. It also pulled off some moves that felt surprisingly human, such as swapping drumsticks in the middle of a song, crossing arms to reach certain drums, and adjusting its motion to save time and maintain balance.

So far, all of this has happened in a virtual setting. The real proving ground will be a live stage, with the robot seated at a drum kit alongside human players. In that setting, the beat can speed up, slow down, or shift without warning. Volume swells and sudden drop-offs will need quick adjustments, and there won’t be a click track quietly keeping everything in line.

To the researchers, it’s more than just a flashy drumming stunt.

They believe the blend of pinpoint timing and adaptable movement could be useful in all sorts of areas, from streamlining factory work to assisting in physical therapy.

Right now, their focus is on refining the system before it ever steps onto a stage. When that moment comes, it won’t just be about hitting the right beats. It will be about proving that a humanoid robot can keep up, and even shine, in the unpredictable, fast-changing environment of a live show.