Human-Machine Collaboration

Research Area

Human Machine Collaboration is an emerging research field in the AEC sector. Here requirements differ from those in other industries due to shorter fabrication cycle lifespans, small batch sizes and higher flexibility requests of project-based fabrication. The research area Human-Machine Collaboration explores novel concepts for task sharing between human and machine actors in semi-autonomous fabrication setups. It uses immersive technologies for human skillset extension, information transfer and fabrication control. It fundamentally changes the conceptual approach to the prefabrication of building components.

Related Research Projects

Towards Human-Robot Co-Agency

Human-Robot-Collaboration II

Cyber-Physical Wood Fabrication Platform

CROW: Collaborative Robotic Workbench

Human-Robot Collaboration in Timber Construction

Related Research Tools

Vizor

Virtual Robot

Selected Publications

  1. 2025

    1. Ron, G., Wortmann, T., Kropp, C., & Menges, A. (2025). Human-Robot Reconfigurations: Advancing Feminist Technoscience Perspectives for Human-Robot-Collaboration in Architecture and Construction. In M. Kanaani (Ed.), The Routledge Companion to Smart Design Thinking in Architecture & Urbanism Fora Sustainable, Living Planet (1st edition, pp. 669–679). Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003384113-72

  2. 2024

    1. Sardari, S., Sevim, S., Zhang, P., Ron, G., Leder, S., Menges, A., & Wortmann, T. (2024). Deep Agency: Towards human guided robotic training for assembly tasks in timber construction. In & G. W. Odysseas Kontovourkis, Marios C. Phocas (Ed.), Proceedings of the 42 (No. 420; Vol. 1, Issue 420, pp. 193–202). eCAADe (Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe). https://papers.cumincad.org/data/works/att/ecaade2024_420.pdf
    2. Opgenorth, N., Cheng, T., Lauer, P. R. A., Stark, T., Tahouni, Y., Treml, S., Göbel, M., Kiesewetter, L., Schlopschnat, C., Zorn, M. B., Yang, X., Amtsberg, F., Wagner, H. J., Wood, D., Sawodny, O., Wortmann, T., & Menges, A. (2024). Multi-scalar computational fabrication and construction of bio-based building envelopes – the livMatS biomimetic shell. Fabricate 2024: Creating Resourceful Futures, 22–31. https://doi.org/10.2307/jj.11374766.7
    3. Ron, G., Menges, A., & Wortmann, T. (2024). Critical Collaboration: Reflecting on Power and Agency in Human-Robot-Collaboration in Architecture and Construction, for a Diverse and Democratic Practice. In P. Eversmann, C. Gengnagel, J. Lienhard, M. Ramsgaard Thomsen, & J. Wurm (Eds.), DESIGN MODELLING SYMPOSIUM KASSEL 2024 – SCALABLE DISRUPTORS (re)new(able) materials and circular design and construction processes (No. 1; Vol. 1, Issue 1, pp. 191–204). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-68275-9_16
    4. Pathmanathan, N., Rau, T., Yang, X., Calepso, A. S., Amtsberg, F., Menges, A., Sedlmair, M., & Kurzhals, K. (2024). Eyes on the Task: Gaze Analysis of Situated Visualization for Collaborative Tasks. 2024 IEEE Conference Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces (VR), 785–795. https://doi.org/10.1109/VR58804.2024.00098
    5. Yang, X., Amtsberg, F., Sedlmair, M., & Menges, A. (2024). Challenges and potential for human–robot collaboration in timber prefabrication. Automation in Construction, 160, 105333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105333

  3. 2023

    1. Amtsberg, F., Yang, X., Skoury, L., Sousa Calepso, A., Sedlmair, M., Wortmann, T., & Menges, A. (2023). Multi-Actor Fabrication for Digital Timber Construction. ECAADe Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.ecaade.2023.1.417
    2. Amtsberg, F., Yang, X., Skoury, L., Ron, G., Kaiser, B., Sousa Calepso, A., Sedlmair, M., Verl, A., Wortmann, T., & Menges, A. (2023). Multi-Akteur-Fabrikation im Bauwesen. Bautechnik, 100(10), Article 10. https://doi.org/10.1002/bate.202300070
    3. Yang, X., Sousa Calepso, A., Amtsberg, F., Menges, A., & Sedlmair, M. (2023). Usability Evaluation of an Augmented Reality System for Collaborative Fabrication between Multiple Humans and Industrial Robots. Proceedings of the 2023 ACM Symposium on Spatial User Interaction, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1145/3607822.3614528

  4. 2022

    1. Yang, X., Amtsberg, F., Skoury, L., Wagner, H. J., & Menges, A. (2022). Vizor, Facilitating Cyber-physical Workflows in Prefabrication through Augmented Reality. In J. van Ameijde, N. Gardner, K. H. Hyun, L. Dan, & U. Sheth (Eds.), Post Carbon - Proceedings of the 27th International Conference on Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia. CAADRIA. https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.caadria.2022.2.141
    2. Abdelaal, M., Amtsberg, F., Becher, M., Duque Estrada, R., Kannenberg, F., Sousa Calepso, A., Wagner, H. J. J., Reina, G., Sedlmair, M., Menges, A., & Weiskopf, D. (2022). Visualization for Architecture, Engineering, and Construction: Shaping the Future of Our Built World. IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications, 42(2), Article 2. https://doi.org/10.1109/MCG.2022.3149837

  5. 2021

    1. Yablonina, M., Ringley, B., Brugnaro, G., & Menges, A. (2021). Soft Office: a human--robot collaborative system for adaptive spatial configuration. Construction Robotics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41693-021-00056-x
    2. Amtsberg, F., Yang, X., Skoury, L., Wagner, H.-J., & Menges, A. (2021). iHRC: An AR-based interface for intuitive, interactive and coordinated task sharing between humans and robots in building construction. In C. Feng, T. Linner, I. Brilakis, D. Castro, P.-H. Chen, Y. Cho, J. Du, S. Ergan, B. Garcia de Soto, J. Gašparík, F. Habbal, A. Hammad, K. Iturralde, T. Bock, S. Kwon, Z. Lafhaj, N. Li, C.-J. Liang, B. Mantha, … Z. Zhu (Eds.), Proceedings of the 38th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (ISARC) (pp. 25–32). International Association for Automation and Robotics in Construction (IAARC). https://doi.org/10.22260/ISARC2021/0006

  6. 2020

    1. Kyjanek, O., Krieg, O. D., Schwinn, T., & Menges, A. (2020). Mensch-Roboter-Kooperation im Holzbau: Potentiale für die Vorfertigung. Abschlussbericht. In Forschungsinitiative Zukunft Bau, F3180. Fraunhofer IRB Verlag.

  7. 2019

    1. Kyjanek, O., Al Bahar, B., Vasey, L., Wannemacher, B., & Menges, A. (2019). Implementation of an Augmented Reality AR Workflow for Human Robot Collaboration in Timber Prefabrication. 2019 Proceedings of the 36th ISARC, 1223--1230. https://doi.org/10.22260/ISARC2019/0164

  8. 2016

    1. Lafreniere, B. J., Grossman, T., Anderson, F., Matejka, J., Kerrick, H., Nagy, D., Vasey, L., Atherton, E., Beirne, N., Coelho, M. H., Cote, N., Li, S., Nogueira, A., Nguyen, L., Schwinn, T., Stoddart, J., Thomasson, D., Wang, R., White, T., … Fitzmaurice, G. W. (2016). Crowdsourced Fabrication. In J. Rekimoto, T. Igarashi, J. O. Wobbrock, & D. Avrahami (Eds.), Proceedings of the 29th Annual Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology  - UIST ’16 (pp. 15–28). ACM Press. http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?doid=2984511.2984553

Contact Information

This image shows Felix Amtsberg

Felix Amtsberg

Dr. techn. MSc. Dipl.-Ing.

Research Group Leader | Multi-Actor Fabrication

To the top of the page