Technologies and Techniques for Collaborative Robotics in Architecture - - establishing a framework for human-robotic design exploration

Abstract

This study investigates the technological and methodological challenges in establishing an indeterministic approach to robotic fabrication that allows for a collaborative and creative design/fabrication process. The research objective enquires into how robotic processes in architecture can move from deterministic fabrication processes towards explorative and indeterministic design processes. To address this research objective, the study specifically explores how an architect and a robot can engage in a process of co-creation and co-evolution, that is enabled by a collaborative robotic arm equipped with an electric gripper and a web camera. Through a case-based experiment, of designing and constructing an adjustable façade system consisting of parallel wood lamellas, designer and robotic system co-create by means of interactive processes. The study will present and discuss the technological implementations used to construct the interactive robotic-based design process, with emphasis on the integration of visual analysis features in Grasshopper and on the benefits of establishing a state machine for interactive and creative robotic control in architecture.