[DC] Humans and Robots Improvise to Design-Fabricate in Virtual Reality

Abstract

Robotics in the architectural field has been mainly used as a fabrication tool rather than a design tool. Recent research in the design-fabrication field, including my previous Ph.D. work, has demon-strated the potential for a human designer to co-create with a robotic arm for the craft that blends both parties' strengths, for example, the robot's accuracy and human sensitivity. In this position paper, I covered my theoretical buildup for the Collective Human-Robot Construction (CHRC) field, where VR/ AR/MR is located around the central area of related research topics. I go through two previ-ous projects (Block Play and Improv-Structure) that introduced the idea of improvisation into human-robot construction in the physical world. The theoretical and prototype explorations lead to my ongoing research to bring the improvisational human-robot construction setting into the virtual environment for faster, cheaper, and less risky co-design experiences. I describe the current progress and planned next steps, together with several questions to discuss at the Doctoral Consortium at IEEE VR 2023.