The Master in Robotics and Advanced Construction (MRAC) seeks to train a new generation of interdisciplinary professionals who are capable of facing our growing need for a more sustainable and optimised construction ecosystem. The Master is focused on the emerging design and market opportunities arising from novel robotic and advanced manufacturing systems.
Through a mixture of seminars, workshops, and studio projects, the master programme challenges the traditional processes in the Construction Sector. It investigates how advances in robotics and digital fabrication tools change the way we build and develop processes and design tools for such new production methods.
The construction industry remains one of the least digitized sectors globally, yet it manages a $177 trillion market. Despite this massive scale, approximately 12–20% of total project costs are routinely lost to rework, largely driven by discrepancies between design plans and as-built site conditions. As a proposal developed for our Software II course, we present … Read more
Circular Intelligence for Robotic Classification & Upcycling of Industrial Timber How can robotic system identify, measure and sort reusable construction materials based on predefined constraints? This project proposes a vision-guided robotic system for supporting the reuse of construction materials through automated detection, analysis, and manipulation. A fixed RGB camera in an eye-to-hand configuration observes a … Read more
How can robots reach trash and recycle it? What components are we using? What is the system process? Main system
In the following blog post, we will analyse the development of the concept of our project carried out in Workshop 2.1. Team Collaborative Workflow and Modular System Development Guide, in which a Rotatory Gantry structure is proposed for the flip-type movement of a robotic arm. AIRFLIP – Rotary Gantry System for Small-Scale Cobots Overview The … Read more
This project was developed within the framework of MRAC Workshop 2.1: Team Collaborative Workflow and Modular System Development. The workshop focuses on learning, internalizing, and applying collaborative software development practices using Git and GitHub through the development of a modular robotic system. In this context, the group was tasked with designing and implementing a robotic … Read more
Robotic Coin Toss — Workshop Context This project was developed within the framework of MRAC Workshop 2.1, a hands-on workshop focused on collaborative workflows and modular system development in robotics. The workshop emphasizes not only technical experimentation, but also the process of working as a team using shared digital tools, version control, and structured documentation. As … Read more
XX WS3.1 XX How can we compress the soul of a 3D object into a few pixels?Kapla Kadabra explores the magic of encoding geometry into 2D data structures – and bringing it back to life. XXXXXXXXXXXX AIM XXXXXXXXXXXX This project explores a lightweight method to encode and decode 3D geometries into pixel matrices. Instead of … Read more
Introduction In the face of the growing demand for sustainable construction, the integration of renewable materials with advanced fabrication techniques is essential for creating adaptable and efficient structures. Our team developed Terraweave, a project that combines willow and earth to create hybrid building components. By leveraging the natural properties of willow for flexibility and earth … Read more
In an era dominated by concrete and steel, the Sticks & Stones project revisits the architectural potential of stone and timber—materials with a rich historical legacy—through the precision of robotic fabrication. This initiative sought to develop a reversible, precise architectural system that bridges traditional craftsmanship with advanced digital tools. By tackling the challenges of natural … Read more
Introduction In a world where natural resources are increasingly scarce, the construction industry faces a crucial challenge: reducing material waste and maximizing the use of available resources. Wood, a traditionally used construction material, is at the center of this issue. Every year, millions of tons of wood are discarded or underutilized due to its irregular … Read more
Robotic Fabrication of Friction-Based Timber Joinery: Burr Puzzle Assembly This research explores robotic assembly of friction-based interlocking timber joints using the burr puzzle as a case study. The puzzle’s tight tolerances and sequential assembly pose challenges. Through modeling and robotic execution, the study shows that while a single-robot approach is feasible, dual robots are necessary … Read more
Workflow for Detection (Transformation to the Real World) Test for getting the points in real world Workflow for Detection (Getting points into the Trajectory) Test for getting the points in real world Workflow for Detection (Processing on Point Cloud) Test for getting the points in real world Machina Connection for ABB_6700 (Simulation)
For this term experiments and tests were conducted for the evaluation markers of the biocomposite of PLA with different charges of Cacau Seed Shell and the Fabrication performances of each biocomposite charges. Tests on mechanical perfomances such as Tensile Strenght, Flexural Stress and Izod Impact were conducted. Compostability tests were also setup in the range … Read more
Aerial Reforestation Using Autonomous Drones Desertification threatens 74% of Spain’s land, worsened by deforestation and wildfires. To aid reforestation, this project develops an open-source drone for autonomous terrain analysis and seed dispersal. Using the Holybro X500 V2, it integrates SLAM for mapping and navigation. Initial work focused on hardware setup and autonomous flight. Future steps … Read more
