Sure, the music created by RO-BOW might lack a little “soul,” but this isn’t the point of the machine, which acts as a kinetic sculpture that manipulates a violin.
RO-BOW is a machine that plays a standard full size violin. The horizontally orientated violin is rotated underneath a reciprocating violin bow while four mechanical fingers are moved to make contact, as appropriate, with the (highest) bowed string. Vibrato, pizzicato, legato, note loudness modulation, and some other bowing effects are provided. [Source]