Digital and Physical Tools for Industrial Robots in Architecture: Robotic Interaction and Interfaces

Abstract

The development of digital and physical tools is highly dependent on interfaces, which define the terms of interaction both between humans and machines, as well as between machines and other machines. This research explores how new, advanced human machine interfaces, that are built upon concepts established by entertainment electronics can enhance the interaction between users and complex, kinematic machines. Similarly, physical computing greatly innovates machine-machine interaction, as it allows designers to easily customize microcontroller boards and to embed them into complex systems, where they drive actuators and interact with other machines such as industrial robots. These approaches are especially relevant in the creative industry, where customized soft- and hardware is now enabling innovative and highly effective fabrication strategies that have the potential to compete with high-tech industry applications.