SE.8 – Elective Seminar
Advanced Robotic Fabrication
METAL BEND
Faculty: Rodrigo Aguirre, Alexandre Dubor
Fabrication Expert: Ricardo Mayor
Teaching Assistant: Nikoleta Mougkasi
In a context of demographic explosion, the construction sector needs to evolve towards faster, cleaner, more efficient and more customisable building systems. On the other hand, the current trend of Industry 4.0 promises groundbreaking technologies: robotics, accurate sensors, computational design, AI and cyber physical systems that could potentially transform the way we design, build and inhabit tomorrow. Furthermore, steel is the most recycled material on the planet, more than all other materials combined. The amazing metallurgical properties of steel allow it to be recycled continually with no degradation in performance, and from one product to another. In fact, greater than 90 percent of the co-products from the steel making process are reused or recycled.
This seminar proposes to explore a series of methodologies, that incorporate advanced design thinking, generative algorithms and mass custom fabrication to existing industrial processes. Accompanied with novel interfaces for robotic programming and large-scale automated construction.
“Metal Bend” is a physical and digital exploration of design processes, material optimization, and fabrication protocols, aiming to to build a 1:1 scale architectural prototype generated through robotically bent steel rods.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Students can expect to learn about the necessary technology to execute the project (Design to production algorithms, material optimization processes, computational design of rod bending workflows, Pick & Place Robotic path planning) while having the possibility to design and make their own assembly.