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.
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
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
Jasper’s Diner
A virtual reality (VR) experience, Jasper’s Diner immerses users in a lively and unpredictable diner environment, where every interaction impacts the world around them. Our everyday choices, specifically food consumption, have significant environmental consequences. The purpose of our VR experience is to show users in a funny and ridiculous way how meat consumption contributes to … Read more
CRUSHING NEWS
#Feelit context Aim: Experiencing the news in a different way , To make you feel by making you experience the news with physical sensations and enhanced visual effects. it’s a comment on human desensitization. POTENTIAL APPLICATION AND USERS OVERALL WORKFLOW Software UNREAL ENGINE Unreal was used to create the environment of the AR experience , … Read more
Strings of life
This project was part of a 1 week workshop at IAAC, utilizing the institute’s two ABB IRB6700 industrial robots. The workshop incorporated Dr. Gannon’s sophisticated simulation tools, which provide safe, real-time control of industrial robots. Under the guidance of Madeline showing us how to sketch with robots we were able to work within a flexible … Read more
Follow Me
Aim To explore innovative parametric tiling designs through the utilization of robotic tiling setups. The project aim is to utilize the functions of COMPAS framework and its extensions for robotic planning. Also, to incorporate computer vision and scanning information into the tiling process to enhance precision and efficiency. Design Logic Inspired by the idea of … Read more
Robotic Gaudi
AIM DESIGN The three distinct design methodologies we explored employed grayscale image mapping, where the gray areas functioned as attractors and filters for colored circles. Our second experiment focused on employing curves as generators for the spatial arrangement and packing of a variety of larger circles. The third methodology extended our exploration to the incorporation … Read more
Kangaroo follows the COMPAS
This project documents a 1-week workshop that introduced students to the COMPAS framework. Our goal was to design a tile mosaic that would be part of a collaborative pick-and-place workflow with the UR5, incorporating COMPAS Fab, Kangaroo (Grasshopper), and ROS. What is COMPAS? Utilizing the COMPAS framework developed by Gramazio Kohler Research and the larger … Read more
DigiPix
INTELLIGENT SENSING AND VISION This project aims to develop an interactive LED matrix capable of dynamically responding to real-time behaviors in its surrounding environment while ensuring versatility in its applications. By integrating sensors to detect various environmental stimuli and employing advanced data processing techniques, the LED matrix will generate dynamic visual patterns that reflect the … Read more
Reclaim Rover
The integration of a rover or swarm of rovers into construction demolition sites represents a paradigm shift in waste management practices. Equipped with advanced sensors and AI algorithms, this rover possesses the capability to accurately identify and segregate valuable materials such as steel and metal amidst debris and rubble. These rovers operate seamlessly alongside human … Read more
Serial Link
This project explores how serial data written by environmental sensors can control and influence the appearance of digital media. The outcome of Serial Link was a wearable device that incorporates a ESP32, Gyroscope, ultrasonic sensor, and a power bank that can control digital media in touch designer through network access. What is serial data?Utilizing the … Read more
Albert: The Rock, Paper, Scissors Robotic Hand
Albert, is a rock-paper-scissors robotic hand designed to serve as a playing partner for the rock-paper-scissors game, aiming to bridge human-robot interaction. Rock-paper-scissors is a universally understood game, known for its simplicity and effectiveness in decision-making. Our objective was to establish a unified language between a robot and a human by humanizing the robot. We … Read more
Kinect Surfaces (Light and Sound)
State of the Art In recent decades, kinetic facades have surfaced as innovative architectural elements, offering alternative building envelopes tailored to address escalating and intricate demands related to user comfort, energy consumption, and cost efficiency. Various articulations of this concept have been advanced, encompassing approaches that span from the integration of inventive components to the … Read more
Truss and Roof Health
ROBOTIC SOLUTIONS FOR 3D SPACE ANALYSIS AIM This workshop ran in collaboration with Noumena and IAAC where we were introduced to a environmental scanning and data processing workflows which combined the use of photogrammetry and point-cloud data. The site of the study was at IAAC’s new building which is yet to be constructed. From this … Read more
Stylized Point Cloud
Aim The main objective is to generate a new formation of point cloud of the new IAAC building, that is inspired from a style (Artistic /Architectural) using AI / Machine learning and change the existing point cloud with the the new stylized point cloud. State of The Art Image-to-image translation is a class of vision … Read more
I-P_Mapper
Context I-P_Maper(Intersection Point Mapper) is a project based on ROS and scanning. It mainly focuses on controlling the robot tool path to scan and get the data we want. Given the time constraints, we maximized our efforts and performed a series of tests in order to develop a program that could accurately identify up to … Read more
Object Database Creation Automation
State of the Art Raw Timber and AEC Industry Wood waste is often disregarded in the wood industry and the construction industry. Majority of wood used in construction is sawn and processed wood that not only generates waste on its production but it is also associated with high CO2 emissions, because of the embodied energy … Read more
PRINT-SCAN-ADAPT
Context Is additive manufacturing going to change the way we fabricate? Certainly it is, additive manufacturing has an immense growth potential with a 22% annual growth as it has offers mass customization and reduced waste. One of the challenges in additive manufacturing is to improve the precision and reliability of the manufacturing process. This can … Read more
IMPACT ROULLETE
The objective of this project is to expand the capabilities of specific robotic processes in additive manufacturing, known as impact printing, Impact Printing, a novel additive manufacturing Robotic technique that consolidates pliable soft particles through a robotic shooting process. The cohesion among these soft particles arises from the conversion of kinetic energy, acquired during acceleration, … Read more
Visualising Genres: Investigating the Combination of Acoustics and Art in Multi-Material 3D Printed Walls
Brief Our curiosity brought us to an intriguing investigation at the nexus of technology, craftsmanship, and acoustics in the quest to elevate spatial design. This blog shares the story of our journey, where we used a cutting-edge multi-material 3D printing technique to produce personalized sound-diffusing walls—a first for the industry. Our concept began with a … Read more
Limitless Project
The industry of construction creates most of the waste in the world. By 2025 we expect to reach 2.2 billion tons globally. As a solution of this problem, industry 4.0 proposed the Additive manufacturing process, which is looking for the optimization of fabrication and construction adding layer by layer different materials; this process started being … Read more
