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.
So basically, these are the iterations we made with the first day at the workshop. These are the many iterations of the different topologies and chairs we made using SubDs. In the end, we decided to go with a simple shape, yet with a complex textile texture. For these diagrams, we conducted a draft angle … Read more
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
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
The Problem The built environment is responsible for 42% of annual global CO₂ emissions. Within this, building operations and construction alone contribute nearly one-third. Yet, current construction methods lack flexibility, efficient resource use, and environmentally friendly solutions. This is the context that drove our project. Terraweave Solution TerraWeave integrates robotics, wattle and daub construction and … Read more
Objective. Over three weeks, the teams develop a process to create a painting using a robot with a paintbrush, studying the brushstroke, paint properties, and the relationship between human gesture and machine movement. We began by working manually, then incorporated digital work and the robot. The final A2 painting reflected the robot’s anatomy and how … Read more
This project comprises of 5 rapid prototypes developed over the course of 3 weeks. Each prototype is developed with a focus on a material and a process. These investigations were a means of developing the skillset of rapidly developing a robotic process and simultaneously became the palette from which we select our research lines for … Read more
OBJECTIVE Understand the anatomy of the hand-drawn brushstrokes During the first phase of this exercise we were tasked with studying the essence of a paint brush stroke. This involved understanding the tool itself: the flexibility of the hair, the viscosity of the paint, and the length of a stroke before the paint is finished. We … Read more
INTRO As part of the “Anatomy of a Machine – Shape” course, we engaged in an exercise that explores the possibilities of robotic material manipulation through various tools and techniques. Our objective was to research and experiment with sustainable, accessible, and locally available materials, applying scientific and creative principles to produce unique prototypes. This process … Read more
Introduction This seminar invites students to explore making custom made spillers controlled by Arduino and a 6-axes robotic arm in order to paint spills on canvas with black acrylic paint. Context Recently we have clearly observed immense changes in production, prototyping, and innovation that has been influenced by open source software, firmware and hardware. Human … Read more
Practical Introduction to Electronics (MRAC Hardware 01) Github: MRAC-IAAC/balloongun Objectives. The Hardware Module 1 is intended to give an overview of the state of the art in robotic actuation, discussing the practical implementation of such actuators, and brainstorm how these actuators and the robotic arms could bring new levels of versatility, agility and efficiency to … Read more
Introduction The “Anatomy of a Machine” project marks the beginning of our exploration into the interplay between human and robotic gestures in creating art. This exercise, undertaken as part of the MRAC first term studio, encouraged us to delve into the fundamental properties of brush strokes, from manual experimentation to robotic automation. Over three weeks, … Read more
Brasil is the seventh biggest productor of Cacao worldwide and 60% of its production is from family agriculture located in the states of Pará and South of Bahia. The Chocolate Supply Chain produces substantial amounts of waste, specifically the Cacao Pod Husk and the Cacao Seed Shell. The process of producing the Chocolate goes from … Read more
