Upcoming Workshop: Robotic Softness - Behavioural Fabrication of Woven Structures

October 20, 2016 / Lauren Vasey, Giulio Brugnaro

External Event
Acadia 2016, University of Michigan

Robotic Softness - Behavioural Fabrication of Woven Structures

Workshop Tutors
Lauren Vasey (ICD, University of Stuttgart)
Giulio Brugnaro ( UCL, The Bartlett School of Architecture, ITECH alum)

This workshop will introduce workshop participants to the notion of “Robotic Softness”, intended as a flexible, adaptable and evolving framework for robotic fabrication in which the design unfolds together with the fabrication process through iterative feedback between the robot, the design environment, and real-time sensor data. In contrast to instruction-based and notational design systems, which typically follow a linear file-to-factory means of realization, behavioural based design and construction methodologies enable the robot to iteratively sense and react to its environment. Such methodologies have precedence in natural systems, where biological organisms utilize behaviours to respond to stimuli in their environment.
In this workshop, Behavioural strategies for robotic fabrication will be used to allow the robot to weave three-dimensional woven structures inspired by the logic of the weaverbird during the construction of its nest. During the workshop an integrative computational tool, a custom weaving end-effec­tor and integrated sensing strategy utilizing 3d scanning procedures, will be used by the participants to enable the production of small scale woven prototypes. These prototypes will not be entirely prescribed in a digital model but will rather emerge from the constant negotiation between fabrication parameters, material properties, site conditions and design intentions.



BEHAVIORAL FABRICATION
We will discuss the larger concept of behavioral fabrication, in which design and fabrication are conceived as an evolving series of preprogrammed machinic behaviors, acting and reacting to the current state of production.
ONLINE ROBOTIC CONTROL
This workshop will cover techniques for the online robotic control of a kuka six axis robot, in which the actions of the robot are not predetermined in control code but are streamed continuously, responsive to sensor data and user inputs.
MATERIAL BEHAVIOR AND DESIGN
Simulation methods and techniques will be discussed for understanding and designing with active bending morphologies.
SCANNING
This workshop will cover basic workflows for using the kinect one to scan an existing structure both locally during fabrication as well as globally between robotic actions.
USER INPUT
We will also investigate methods by which designer input may be utilized during production to aid or alter the fabrication process.



 
For more information or for registration:
Acadia 2016 Workshops

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