construction games for robots - lecture#01

Digital Design Unit — Digitales Gestalten Digital Design Unit — Digitales Gestalten

Construction GamesFor Robots

Andrea Rossi21.10.2016


Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016

Summary

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• Course Aim

• Theoretical Background

• Process Description

• Reference Projects

• Course Structure

• Next Task



Course Aim

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The seminar will introduce

students to a complete design-

to-production pipeline for

modular assembly,

integrating:

• construction sets design

• robotic assembly techniques

• computer vision

• human-machine interaction



Bits to Atoms <-> Atoms to Bits

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA-wcFtUBE4

“A digital material consists of a finite number of building blocks which have

discrete joints and occupy discrete space.”

(Jonathan Ward, 2010)

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Discrete Position

Finite Number of Elements

Discrete Joints

Reversible Connection

Material-Independent

Self-Aligning & Error-Correcting

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Process - Design

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• Design of Individual Blocks

• Design of blocks connections

• Definition of rules for block

connection > design grammar

• Test of combination and

composition possibilities



Process – Fabrication

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Being composed of repetitive

elements, digital materials

allow the use of simpler

production techniques, as they

do not require customization:

• Casting

• 3D Printed Molds

• Folded Sheets Molds

• Roto-Molding?

• Parallel CNC Hotwire Cutting

• Thermo-Forming?



Process – Assembly

In order to assemble the modules, a

6-axis robot arm will be used. This

will require:

• Definition of assembly procedures

• Geometry > Robot code translation

• Gripping Tool Design

• Assembly Sequencing

• Tolerances



Process – Interaction

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e:

“Juguett

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2016

In order to allow for users to

interact with the assembly

process, and alter the design

in real-time, it is required:

• Simplified User Interface

• Robotic Vision System

• Human – Machine

Communication System

• Adaptive Assembly Rules



ParallelGripper

ControlBoard

IntegratedHD Camera



Reference Projects

• Jose Sanchez - Polyomino

• MIT CBA – Digital Materials Research

• Skylar Tibbits – Logic Matter

• Elegant Embellishment – ProSolve370E

• Self-Assembly Neighbourhoods

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Course Work

• Suggested to work in groups of 2

• Friday Sessions (1 week skips every 3)

• Morning (10:15–12:30): Presentations, Review of

Previous week work

• Afternoon (14:00-17:00): SoftwareTutorials, Group work

• Optional weekly tasks

• Three graded deliverables



Deliverables

• Midterm – 02.12.2016

• Design of one set of modules

• 3D model of each module + 2-3 compositions

• Physical model of each module (5-10 copies)

• Workshop – 22.02.2017

• Physical composition of modules robotically assembled

• Grasshopper process for assembly

• Final Delivery – 29.02.2017

• A5 booklet describing the complete project development



Calendar

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Course Blog

https://constructiongames4robots.wordpress.com/



Next Task

• Software: Rhino Modeling Introduction

• Research: Construction Games

• Project Development: First ideas for modules design

OPTIONAL

• Reading: J. Sanchez, “Polyomino - Reconsidering Serial

Repetition in Combinatorics”



Next Task – Project Development

• Draft design for 1-2 different sets of

modules

• Start to create 3D models of

designed modules in Rhino

• For at least one set, try to create a

composition of modules in Rhino

• For at least one module, build a

physical model



Next Task – Project Development



Rhino / Grasshopper Introduction

• 2 Saturdays: 22.10.2016 / 29.10.2016

• Taught by Lila PanahiKazemi

• Location: White Computer Pool (behind the Kuhle)

• Not mandatory, but HIGHLY recomended



BE-AM Symposium – 27.10.2016

http://be-am.ddu-research.com/