TUXEDO at Modular Festival: When Technology Becomes Art - TUXEDO Computers

When people stand in a four by four meter cage, wave a „magic baton“ and conduct a drone swarm to electronic beats, that’s more than just entertainment. That’s Systems Engineering from Augsburg University of Applied Sciences in action – powered by a TUXEDO Atlas.

Science Meets Festival Culture

From June 6 to 8, the Apparatehaus at Modular Festival transformed into a „Future World“. At the center: the „Drone Harmonics“ project by TH Augsburg. Students from the Systems Engineering program had developed an audiovisual composition that merges sound, light and movement into an interactive experience.

What makes it special: Visitors become conductors themselves. With gestures, they control a drone swarm that dances in sync with the music. What looks like playful entertainment is based on complex technology: real-time processing of movement data, precise drone control and the coordination of multiple systems.

Why a TUXEDO Atlas?

Applications like these require computing power. The TUXEDO Atlas XL - Gen2 that we provided to the team delivers the necessary performance for real-time calculations. At the same time, it runs Linux, which is often indispensable for scientific projects. Open-source tools for robotics and drone control, free development environments and the ability to completely customize the system to your own needs make the difference.

Proprietary systems would impose limitations here. License costs for specialized software, restrictions on system configuration or dependencies on manufacturers can slow down research projects. With Linux and a powerful system like the Atlas, students have the freedom to implement their ideas without compromise.

Research Belongs in Society

The TH Augsburg team puts it perfectly: „Research doesn’t belong in an ivory tower, but right in the middle of life.“ At a festival, between techno beats and art installations, people experience technology in a way that wouldn’t be possible in a laboratory.

For many people, drones are still abstract, often associated with surveillance or military operations. Here they become art objects that respond to human gestures. Suddenly, the creative possibilities inherent in technology become visible.

Technology as a Bridge

What’s particularly impressive about this project: It shows how technology can connect people. Festival visitors don’t become passive consumers, but active participants. They experiment, marvel and develop a feeling for the possibilities of modern robotics.

At the same time, the project demonstrates the strengths of open systems. Linux as a foundation, free software for development and hardware that can be completely adapted to requirements. That’s digital self-determination in practice.

A Look into the Future

Projects like „Drone Harmonics“ show where the journey is heading. Technology is becoming increasingly interactive, accessible and creatively applicable. Open systems play a key role in this. They enable researchers, artists and developers to experiment without restrictions.

The TUXEDO Atlas was more than just a computer in this case. It was the tool with which a vision became reality. And that’s ultimately what drives us at TUXEDO Computers: creating technology that helps people implement their ideas.

We’re delighted to have been part of this impressive project. And who knows, perhaps some of the festival visitors discovered their passion for technology that weekend.