AUGMENTED MATERIALITY
This workshop will demonstrate strategies for interactive and intuitive robot control during the design and fabrication processes. Rather than using the robot in isolation as a means for fabricating digital design, the robot acts as one of many mediators between the digital and physical world throughout the design process. Employing 3D scanning technologies in conjunction with user tracking, human interface devices, various sensors and augmented reality strategies, we are able to demonstrate multidirectional communication between the human designer, physical materials, computer simulation and robotic scanning/manipulation. Our scripts coordinate robot movements with projected images, thereby illustrating robotic toolpaths, user input information and structural calculations by overlaying them over physical geometry. The setup and tools will be used, experimented upon, and (ideally) modified by workshop participants.
Location: Princeton University
What participants can expect to learn in this workshop
Participants will be introduced to the basics of robot control as a foundation for approaching more complex workflows which integrate a variety of inputs and interfaces with robotic fabrication techniques. The workshop will introduce concepts, strategies and technologies for communicating digital information through physical form (using projective augmented reality, touch sensors, kinect, robotic manipulation, etc.) Participants will interact, design and fabricate using custom software and interfaces for robotic control, and will be encouraged to find their own ways of modifying the input parameters, setup and software.
Prerequisites
Familiarity with Rhino 5.0, programming or scripting skills not necessary.
Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptops, software will be provided by workshop presenters.
Robotic Specification
– ABB IRB 6400 Industrial Robot
– ABB IRB 7600 Industrial Robot
Workshop Schedule
Day 1
Presentation/Demonstration on basic robot control (generating simple RAPID with a text editor). Introduction of Mussel for Grasshopper. Participants will create robot code for a simple selected tool and a path of their design using Mussel. We will demonstrate the Robotstudio simulation environment and execute the individually produced code on the robot.
Building upon this simple foundation, we will move towards a more complex robotic workflow with multiple control parameters (touch, gesture, 3D scanning, sensor feedback, embodied computation, etc.). Such workflows will be demonstrated and experimented upon via sample applications. We will provide a more resolute outline of communication between various sensors and scripting languages/software. Participants are encouraged to modify workflow and code independently according to their interest and skill level.
Day 2
Individual support for gestural input exercise and independent designs.
Introduction of more dynamic workflow, which combines gestural input and control with computer simulation, 3D scanning, and dynamic material properties.
Participants explore setup through interaction and experimentation.
Workshop Presenters
Ryan Luke Johns – greyshed
Ryan Luke Johns is a research specialist at Princeton University and a founding partner of greyshed. His current research is focused upon the use of robotic manipulators as design tools through the exploration of computer simulations, mixed-reality technologies, and procedural fabrication. He was the recipient of the “KUKA Young Potential Award” at Rob|Arch 2012 for his research paper “Augmented Reality and the Fabrication of Gestural Form.”
Nicholas Foley – greyshed
Nicholas Foley is a founding partner at greyshed and is head of industrial design at Social Bicycles, where he designs and manufactures innovative bike-sharing systems. He has a Bachelor of Industrial Design from Pratt Institute with a background in product design, mass production, traditional metalworking, and digital fabrication techniques.
Axel Kilian – Princeton University
Axel Kilian is an Assistant Professor at the Princeton University School of Architecture. He previously taught Computational Design and Studios in Architectural Engineering at Delft University of Technology and workshopsand studio in the Department of Architecture at MIT. He was a tutor in the Smart Geometry workshops from 2003-2009 and in 2009 co-organized its conference program. In 2008 he co-chaired the conference “Advances in Architectural Geometry – AAG08” in Vienna together with Prof. Dr. H. Pottmann and M. Hofer. Mr. Kilian has lectured widely on his Ph.D. research on the role of computational design in design exploration and published extensively on the topic in technical journals. His publications include Architectural Geometry (Exton, PA: Bentley Institute Press, 2007), a textbook developed with Prof. Dr. H. Pottmann, Chair of Geometric Modeling and Industrial Geometry at TU Vienna, A. Asperl and M. Hofer; as well as numerous articles in lASS Journal, 306090, Caadria, and IJAC.
Notes on Location/Facilities
This workshop is kindly supported by the Embodied Computation Lab at Princeton University School of Architecture and greyshed. The workshop will happen in the Princeton University Embodied Computation Lab and Architecture Lab. Depending on attendance the workshop could also have access to or visit the greyshed facilities.
The Princeton University Arc-Lab and greyshed are a mile from one-another, and located in Princeton, NJ.
