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.


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Timber Syntax: A Computational Pipeline for Assembling Non-Homogeneous Timber

In the pursuit of a sustainable built environment, Timber Syntax demonstrates how reclaimed, non-homogeneous timber can be transformed into high-quality facade systems through a computational and robotic pipeline. Developed at the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC), this project bridges waste reuse, advanced fabrication, and circular design to propose a new paradigm for timber … Read more

AIbotix: Optimizing Construction Workflows Through Spatial Cognition and an AI Agent in Robotics

“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

Workshop 3.2 – HearMeOut

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

WORKSHOP 3.2 _ REFLECTION

“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

Rock the Rock

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

PalmPilot 2000

No mouse. No keyboard. Just you.  Github Link: https://github.com/Adronegenius/palmpilot2000.git Problem/Opportunity Current 2D CAD layout tools rely heavily on complex UI layers and precise mouse manipulation. These become barriers for: PalmPilot2000 addresses this by introducing a body-centered interaction system, where gestures drive the logic of selecting, moving, and placing elements on a plan — with visual … Read more

Interlock Tower

Rethinking Towe Typology with AI: This project explores the redesign of contemporary tower structures using machine learning (ML), challenging the repetitive, profit-driven design seen in cities like Hong Kong. The goal is to discover new typologies through AI and stacking rules, and tren translate them to a robotic fabrication system (pick and place). AI-generated towers … Read more

Workshop 3.1_KAPLA-Nest

| 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

Software III _ UN_LOG FACTORY

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

ReWeave_3.0

Abstract: The ReWeave project develops a robotic system to repurpose construction and demolition (C&D) waste into functional, attractive walls, enhancing human-robot collaboration. We created a database by scanning broken tiles to extract shape, size, and color information, then developed custom nesting algorithms to optimize tile arrangement. The workflow includes scanning tiles, exporting outlines via ROS, … Read more

Robot of Babel

नमस्ते – مرحبًا – OLÁ – HOLÁ AIM Our aim is to make Human Robot Collaboration accessible to a variety of users via different languages by developing  a speech to toolpath interface. RELEVANCE METHOD Workflow As the participant enters the room, they are greeted by a robot with a friendly waving motion. The participant can … Read more

#Being_Humane

What if you can control your Cobot with only hand gestures and you can work effortlessly? That’s what we came up with this experiment of using Multi agent systems to control the engagement of a collaborative robot (ur10e).Our workshop highlights an innovative approach to controlling cobots using hand gestures. This method aims to facilitate effortless … Read more

BLABBER BOT

 Building Together, One Word at a Time AIM The aim of this project is to enhance human-robot collaboration through the development of a user-friendly system that creates an inclusive environment. Text-to-speech (TTS) and speech-to-text (STT) systems enable humans and robots to communicate in anintuitive and engaging way. Relevance One major issue was that the human … Read more

Hey Jarvis, let’s Collaborate!

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