The Master Programme in Robotics and Advanced Construction is an innovative educational format that offers interdisciplinary skills and understanding through a series of class seminars that are put into practice through hands-on workshops. IAAC gives students the opportunity to create individual studio agendas and develop Pilot Thesis Projects based on the knowledge acquired during the seminars and workshops split into 3 Modules. In this way, IAAC puts together an experimental learning environment for the training of professionals with both theoretical and practical responses to the increasing complexity of the construction sector.
A Collaborative Human-in-the-Loop Clay Modelling System The Question What if anyone could sculpt a wall like an artist? That question sits at the center of Clay Create, a collective ceramic fabrication system where non-specialized users participate in the production of a wall of unique modules, each one manually shaped by a different person. The project … Read more
The goal of the workshop “From Matter to Model: Materials Intelligence” was to understand materials before designing with them, their properties, geometry and fabrication logic, in order to develop a column sculpture proposal composed of base, body and capital. As a hands-on exercise, we built a column of compressed earth blocks and lime mortar using … Read more
Faculty: Nacho Monereo & Prottay Roy ChowdhuryGuest Artist: Maria Mallo The project focused on creating a dynamic feedback loop between digital design, robotic positioning, and human craftsmanship. Instead of treating the robot as a fully autonomous machine, the workflow emphasized continuous interaction and mutual dependency between human and machine during fabrication. The installation was fabricated … Read more
Introduction This workshop explores new modes of architectural production through active collaboration between humans and robots, shifting away from traditional models of automation toward hybrid systems of shared decision-making. Rather than understanding the robot as a fully autonomous tool, it is framed as an agent that cooperates with the human in real time, creating a … Read more
Neuron is a project developed during the IAAC MRAC 3.1 Welding Workshop that explores human–robot collaboration in the assembly of space-frame structures. The project focuses on the interaction between a Universal Robots UR10e robotic arm and a human welder, working together to assemble pre-cut steel bars through a continuous exchange between robotic precision and human … Read more
Rethinking Robotics Through Experience Reflections on a lecture by Madeline Gannon Introduction “Somehow, someway, I have built a career out of misusing technology.” Madeline Gannon has spent over a decade working at the intersection of industrial robotics, art, and human interaction. This text presents a thematic synthesis of her lecture for the MRAC, followed by … Read more
INTRODUCTION: In today’s era of mass customization, robotics play a key role in shaping a variety of materials. This research investigates the capacity of the ABB IRB 6700 robotic arm to perform metal forming operations on 6 mm steel rebars. Despite axis torque limitations, the process successfully yields horizontal balustrade components intended for architectural integration at … Read more
Crafting performative structures through robotic earth injection in dynamic fiber scaffolds Terraweave is an architectural research project that explores how robotic additive manufacturing can enhance the performance of natural building materials. Conducted as part of the Master in Robotics and Advanced Construction at IAAC, the project investigates the integration of willow scaffolds and earth injection … Read more
Hybrid Timber and Stone Constrcuction System Utilisng 6-axis Robotic Fabriction Our research begins with a critique of how we build today. Technological advancements have enabled rapid, standardized, and seemingly affordable construction. But these efficiencies hide deeper costs. In reality, we’re paying through the loss of cultural specificity, environmental integrity, and material identity. What emerges is … Read more
Why – Problem context In the current forestry industry, only 40% of each harvested tree is actually used for construction or valuable products. The remaining 60% often ends up as waste — discarded, chipped, or burned as firewood. This imbalance sparked a fundamental question:Can we change this ratio? Driven by that inquiry, we began exploring … Read more
The Challenge Traditional industrial robot software emphasizes reliability, precision, and repeatability. This approach can make the human-robot collaborations feel uncreative and non-engaging. Robots must by dynamic and engaging to thrive in a human-centered environment. The Solution The Overview Inverse Kinematics Using Inverse kinematics to orchestrate joint rotations, and constructing smooth mathematical functions that are composed … Read more
“Precision becomes poetry through reflection and sound.” Reflection is an immersive installation that explores the potential of precision and reflection between two robotic arms through synchronized movements. Equipped with mirrors, the robots become both instruments and performers. Concept: The law of reflection The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is equal to … Read more
Course Overview The MRAC Applied Theory III course focuses on the exploration of collaborative robotics through the lens of ( MAS ) Multi-Agent Systems, in which different components of the system work autonomously and collaborate in order to execute complex tasks. The course investigates how digital and physical bots , operate within a shared environment … Read more
INTRODUCTION In today’s construction industry, a large portion of timber is discarded due to its non-standard shape, curvature, or internal defects. Un_Log Factory challenges this paradigm by proposing a digitally augmented fabrication system that embraces the natural irregularity of timber. Instead of seeing bent or cracked logs as waste, our process redefines them as raw … Read more
