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.

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Feasibility and cost estimations in digital fabrication

Building on our previous analysis of a large clay-printed geometric form, this study evaluates the feasibility of its digital-fabrication workflow. Through modular breakdown, material and time estimation, non-planar slicing analysis, and production-logistics modeling, we assess whether the system can be manufactured efficiently and economically. The process concludes with the development of a complete production plan … Read more

The Massage Chair

Top angle view

The massage chair is an experiment in digital fabrication and hybrid workflows, using computational design, CNC milling, 6-axis robotic milling, and human assembly and finishing, to understand how different subtractive manufacturing processes can be combined to balance speed, precision, and material expression in digital fabrication. Materials Tools Used Early Designs Early explorations of designs in … Read more

Nidra chair – MRAC & MAEB Workshop 1.1

Nidra chair

The Nidra Chair was developed within the framework of Workshop 1.1, where we explored robotic milling using the KUKA robotic arm. The design process was guided by a set of conceptual ideas—texture, nest, wings, and storage—which shaped the formal and tactile language of the piece. Inspired by notions of protection, warmth, and well-being, Nidra seeks … Read more

Robotic Milling and Design for Subtractive Manufacturing — Elephant Chair

Abstract: The Elephant Chair project was developed during the workshop “Robotic Milling and Design for Subtractive Manufacturing Workflows.”This workshop explored hybrid fabrication methods combining 3-axis CNC milling and 6-axis robotic milling to translate digital geometries into precise wooden prototypes. Our team designed and fabricated a furniture piece inspired by organic anatomy, robust yet flexible, mirroring the mechanical elegance of the machines used … Read more

Terraweave

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

STICKS & STONES

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

Applied Theory III _ Un_Log Factory

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

Machine Learning Strategies for Toolpath Optimization in Fabrication

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

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

Terraweave: Innovative Structures for a Changing World

terraweave

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

Sticks & Stones: Precision in Robotic Fabrication with Traditional Materials

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

Studio II_Anatomy of a System: RE_SHAPE

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

RE_SHAPE

Digital  Transformation  of  Discarded  Logs  for  Structural  and  Design  Applications Re_Shape is a design and innovation project that addresses a major blind spot in the forestry industry: the waste of tree trunks that are curved, bifurcated, or otherwise irregular and therefore excluded from traditional processing systems. These logs are typically downgraded into low-value products like … Read more

Guess the Cup: Robotic Track + Respond

Introduction to Robotic Operating Systems Github repository: https://github.com/sashakraeva/MRAC-ur-perception Introduction his course provided a thorough introduction to the Robot Operating System (ROS), teaching us essential skills in robotic software development. We learned about key ROS concepts like nodes, topics, messages, and services. Using robotic perception as case studies, we understood how ROS connected robots, sensors, and … Read more

BANDY.DUCKS_2.1_Robotic Glazing Choreography

Introduction This project was done in collaboration with Heatherwick Studio. Our starting point was a problem that emerged when patterned ceramic tiles were deployed at scale. Specifically, factory-produced tiles create repetitive patterns, which detract from their crafted intricacy. On the other end of the spectrum, hand glazing is a highly skilled and time-consuming process that … Read more