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.
WORKSHOP 3.2 STONE AND CODE is a robotic column sculpture that combines natural stone construction with computational fabrication. Using two robotic systems, one robot prints the column layers while the other places digitally scanned stones into the structure. Around 40% of each stone remains exposed, creating a raw and natural texture. Pathways through Barcelona and … Read more
Human-in-the-Loop: Interactive Systems Faculty: Hamid Peiro + Aleksandra Kraeva Hardware III is a cross-discipline project led by Hamid Peiro and Aleksandra Kraeva (Sasha); between MRAC and MAAI to explore the possibilities of interactive design within and around the boundaries of the worlds of robotics and AI. The project aims to better understand how the human … Read more
Programme MAEBB 02 / MRAC 02 · 2024–2026 · Supervisor Valentino Tagliaboschi · Fabrication Sheikh Rizvi Riaz · Developed at IAAC Robotics Lab and Valldaura Labs , Barcelona This article continues the framework introduced in Immutable Concrete, the earlier phase of this work, in which the gate becomes an instrument an agent can use. The problem, restated Recycled-aggregate concrete is difficult to … Read more
Adaptive Framework for Hybrid Slicing Strategies in Large-Scale Robotic Fabrication of AI-Derived Architectural Systems Throughout history, imagined worlds have existed through literature, cinema, and digital environments, continuously expanding architecture beyond the built. Today, AI allows these speculative realities to be generated with unprecedented complexity, while robotic fabrication enables their materialization. Through an adaptive framework using … 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
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
“Spatial Cognition in Robotics: Optimizing Construction Workflow with AI”Shu Xiao – MRAC02 Thesis, IAAC 2024–2025 Despite advances in manufacturing automation, the construction industry continues to rely heavily on manual labor due to its unpredictable environment, safety concerns, and fragmented workflows. This project explores how vision-guided robotics and real-time AI agents can close that gap by … 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
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
A Real-Time Audio-Visual Stone Symphony Rock the Rock is an interactive audio-visual installation that identifies and tracks rocks in real time, generating dynamic sound and projection overlays. By leveraging computer vision and finite state machines, it transforms geological forms into a sensory experience. Concept and Context This project served as our introduction to Finite State … Read more
In the ongoing pursuit of efficient toolpath generation, we set out to build a modular, logic-driven system capable of planning subtractive manufacturing strategies. The framework integrated zonal segmentation, directional movement, and dynamic state awareness; its goal was adaptability and long-term scalability. While we achieved full system functionality, this initial iteration exposed the distance between a … Read more
| INTRODUCTION | Learning Structures: From Parametric Rules to Machine-Made Forms. In this project, we explored the interplay between parametric design, machine learning, and robotic fabrication. Starting from Kapla block assemblies controlled by simple deformation rules, we trained a GAN to reinterpret and generate new structural variations. The process concluded with robotic pick-and-place construction, closing … Read more
Github : https://github.com/Clarrainl/UN_LOG-Factory | INTRODUCTION | Detecting wood defects in 3D-scanned logs using Machine Learning In the timber industry, a significant portion of wood gets discarded due to irregularities or defects that make it unusable under standard practices. However, many of these logs can still be used creatively or structurally if properly understood and classified. This project … Read more
This project explores a framework for Human-Robot Collaboration (HRC) and behavioural fabrication, focusing on constructing a Jenga-like tower using small timber blocks. Using the Agent-Based Modeling system (ABxM) from the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD), a communication network was established integrating a human participant, a computer vision system, and an interactive audio interface. … Read more
Concept Most of Virtual Experiences are designed and model for humans and by humans. In this scenario believe the overall concept is that the game platform is seen from the perspective of an animal. References Aim “Our goal is to offer humans a unique experience through the eyes of a peacock. This game platform immerses … Read more
