Robotic Fabrication

Introduction to Computational Control and Digital Fabrication

Recent developments in computational design methods, fabrication techniques and robotic control open up new possibilities for materialization in architecture. Beyond the automation of traditional fabrication techniques, robotics afford the opportunity to explore adaptive, interactive and responsive digital fabrication methods. Students will develop skills and understanding for relevant techniques: robotic interfaces, custom effectors, development and prototyping, real-time design and fabrication feedback.
Throughout the course the students will receive instruction about the aforementioned topics and will be requested to engage practically with the given curriculum through accomplishing short-term assignments in small groups. This explorative process will be closely related to the ITECH Master studio course Performative Morphologies: ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion (participation encouraged but not obligatory), which will enable students to investigate fabrication techniques in interdisciplinary teams as well as developing suitable computational design tools for this process.
The result of these investigations will be a deeper understanding of the potential of robotic fabrication within the context of architecture and proficiency in technologies for advanced fabrication of architectural systems, the development of computational tools, and experimental fabrication techniques. By the end of the course student groups will be able to achieve a final seminar project combining the skills they have learned during the course.
Final presentations are at the end of the semester. Prerequisite is the participation in one of the computational design seminars, or experience with Rhino, Grasshopper, and Python Programming.