Workshops

Robot UI – User Interfaces for Robotic Live Control

University/Organisation: Southern California Institute of Architecture & University of New South Wales

Description: This workshop will explore interactive and intuitive robot motion control as a medium to explore non deterministic design trajectories and human-robot interactions. The workshop will focus on the development of custom user interfaces, including parametric constraint models and logics. Through iterative design charrettes, students will engage with ‘live’ robotics and build in groups dynamic ideation environments where human and robot actively engage with the space. Engaging scanning technologies, human interface devices, user tracking, we are placing the robot as a mediating device in a feedback loop which engages simultaneously with the digital and physical world in the now. Building custom UI’s we will actively explore and imagine how we engage with matter and the space once we are able to move things precisely, intuitively and interactively.

Location: Pier 2/3 Walsh Bay

Duration: Tuesday 15th March – Thursday 17th March 2016, 10am-5pm.

Workshop Co-Chairs: Michael Jake Newsum, Curime Batliner and M. Casey Rehm

Robot Workcell:     3 x ABB IRB120

Software:  Rhino 5, Grasshopper & Processing

Previous knowledge required: Processing – Low level required

Participants to bring: Windows PC with Rhino 5, Grasshopper & Processing

Feature-Based Multi-Robot Assemblies

University/Organisation: HAL Robotics & Bond University

Description: This workshop aims to initiate participants in collaborative robotics workflows using various sensing devices, through a demonstrative application of assisted assembly of generative patterns from a predefined kit of parts. These parts, randomly distributed throughout a multi-robot work cell composed of small-payload industrial arms and a pool of sensors sharing the same network, will be automatically located, identified and assembled by the machines to match models and constraints specified by the participants during the design phase and at runtime. The resulting proto-architectural system, composed of a hierarchy of prefabricated interlocking components, will illustrate the possible architectural relationship between standard and non-standard elements within a single assembly. The properties of each part, considered as a combination of features shared by a single entity, will be described and detected via geometrical (point cloud), physical (mass), and contextual (denomination) means.

Location: Pier 2/3 Walsh Bay

Duration: Tuesday 15th March – Thursday 17th March 2016 10am-5pm.

Workshop Co-Chairs: Thibault Schwartz, Tristan Gobin, Sebastian Andraos, Rémi Vriet,  Jonathan Nelson, Chris Knapp

Robot Workcell:  1 x YuMi, 1x ABB IRB14000, 2x ABB IRB1200

Software:  HAL Robots Programming & Control, Rhino + Grasshopper.

Previous knowledge required: Familiarity with Rhino 5 and Grasshopper medium level required.

Participants to bring: Participants are required to bring their own laptops, with Rhino + Grasshopper

Stigmergic Accretion: semi-autonomous polymer deposition
SOLD OUT

University/Organisation: RMIT Architectural Robotics Lab

Description: This workshop will explore the relationship between robotic fabrication and generative design. A workflow will be established that links real-time robotic control with vision systems and multi-agent generative design algorithms. This relationship describes a process of stigmergic fabrication, where robots are considered agents within the generative design process. The robots will deposit/extrude plastic through a series of semi-autonomous rules or behaviors in response to previously extruded polymer. This sets up a self-organising feedback loop where the robot/agent affects its environment through deposition of plastic material and the plastic affects the  subsequent motion and behaviors of the robots through vision systems. This emergent process compresses design and fabrication into a single unified operation.

Location: Pier 2/3 Walsh Bay

Duration: Tuesday 15th March – Thursday 17th March 2016 10am-5pm.

Workshop Co-Chairs: Roland Snooks & Gwyllim Jahn

Robot Workcell: 2 x KUKA KR10-1100

Software:  Rhino, Grasshopper and Eclipse robot control library

Previous knowledge required: Some experience with Grasshopper and/or Processing is preferable. Experience with KUKA PRC preferable but not required.

Participants to bring: Laptops with Rhino, Grasshopper, Kuka PRC, Eclipse

Interactive 3D Printing
SOLD OUT

University/Organisation: Institute of Advanced Architecture Catalunya, Harvard GSD & University of Sydney and UNSW

Description: Robotic fabrication processes enable designers and architects to explore the boundaries between digital and material worlds. Beyond optimization criteria or parametric design, new design strategies such as generative design and collaborative design are enabling new ways of approaching material exploration through robotics. Typically, the outcomes of a fabrication process are predetermined, however, with the introduction of sensors, design and fabrication process may be interrupted by real-time feedback. This workshop explores the potential for creative practitioners to adopt robotic fabrication processes augmented with the introduction of sensors. Using an inexpensive toolbox of sensors useful for digital fabrication, participants in the workshop will construct and integrate sensing apparatus into a 3D printing process to explore the role of material feedback in an on-going design process.

Location: Pier 2/3 Walsh Bay

Duration: Tuesday 15th March – Thursday 17th March 2016 10am-5pm.

Workshop Co-Chairs: Alexandre Dubor, Martin Bechthold, Kevin Hinz, Dagmar Reinhardt, Kate Dunn, Samantha Horlyck, Susana Alarcon, Marjo Niemelä, Dylan Wozniak O’Connor, Rod Watt

Robot Workcell: 1 x KUKA KR10-1100, 1 x KUKA KR6-700

Software:  Rhino 5.0, Grasshopper, Processing, Arduino

Previous knowledge required: Familiarity with scripting (not necessarily with Arduino or KRL)

Participants to bring: Own laptops, preferably with the latest stable version of Rhino, Grasshopper, Processing and Arduino installed. Extra software will be provided by the workshop presenters.

Robotic Sewing of Custom Timber Veneer Laminates

University/Organisation: Institute for Computational Design, University of Stuttgart, in collaboration with RAW (Monash Laboratory for Materials and Processes) & sensiLab, Monash University, Melbourne

Description:  Recent developments in computational design and computer-controlled fabrication have significantly expanded the range of applications for timber in architecture. Although modern timber fabrication technology allows the material to be shaped into a variety of shapes, products and dimensions, the inherent material characteristics of timber are mostly neglected or even suppressed in the design and fabrication process. Yet, timber exhibits excellent mechanical behaviour and high potentials for textile and multi-material connections outside the scope of conventional timber connections. This workshop explores an alternative approach and will investigate the architectural potentials of robotic sewing of bespoke timber veneer laminates in combination with elastic bending. Strips of timber veneer will be laminated to achieve defined bending behaviours, and will be sewn together using a robotic sewing effector resulting in stiff, but ultra-lightweight building modules. The fabrication process will be enabled by bespoke computational design tools and methods that the participants will engage with during the workshop.

Location: Pier 2/3 Walsh Bay

Duration: Tuesday 15th March – Thursday 17th March 2016 10am-5pm.

Workshop Co-Chairs:  ICD: Achim Menges, Oliver Krieg, Tobias Schwinn | MADA: Tim Schork, Jackson Caish-Sadlek, Jon McCormack

Robot Workcell: 2 x KUKA KR10-1100

Software:  Rhino 5, Grasshopper & Python

Previous knowledge required:  Basic knowledge of Python

Participants to bring:  Laptops with Rhino 5, Grasshopper & Python

Superform: Robotic Hot-Blade Cutting

University/Organisation: Odico, Aarhus School of Architecture & University of Sydney

Description: This workshop invites participants to explore a novel method of doubly curved formwork production and concrete casting currently under development by 6 industrial and academic partners represented in the workshop: robotic hot-blade cutting. The method allows for cost-effective, industrial scale production of advanced, doubly curved concrete structures using a combination of new hardware and algorithmic developments to be presented at the workshop. Premiering for the first time bespoke geometry rationalization and segmentation algorithms and tools relative to the process, participants are invited to enquire on the relationship between geometry, computation and the robotic production through the design and making of prototype, doubly curved structures.

Location: Pier 2/3 Walsh Bay

Duration: Tuesday 15th March – Thursday 17th March 2016 10am-5pm.

Workshop Co-Chairs: Asbjørn Søndergaard, Jelle Feringa, David Brander, Kasper Steenstrup, Toke Nørbjerg and Kenn Clausen. www.odico.dk.

Robot Workcell:  2 x ABB IRB 120

Software: Rhino, Grasshopper & Python

Previous knowledge required: Medium level of experience on Rhino

Participants to bring: Laptop with Rhino & Grasshopper

Spatially Extruded Structures

University/Organisation: ETH Zurich, University of Michigan &
University of Technology Sydney

Description: This workshop will explore the generation of spatial frame structures extruded in midair.  Building upon the Mesh Mould research project developed at the ETH Zurich in close collaboration with Sika Technology AG  (Patent Publication No. WO/2015/034438) we will explore the constraints and opportunities that come with non-layer based 3D printing processes.
This process  capitalises on the strengths of industrial robots – precision in space and time – while working strategically with their limited payload by deploying minimal material for maximal geometric definition.  The workshop will demonstrate the stages from algorithmic design in rhino python via custom control software to the automated generation of instruction code and the feedback of empirical material behavior back into the generative design code.

Location: Pier 2/3 Walsh Bay

Duration: Tuesday 15th March – Thursday 17th March 2016 10am-5pm.

Workshop Co-Chairs: David Jenny, Wes McGee,  Dave Pigram and Iain Maxwell.

Robot Workcell:  2 x KUKA Kr6, Custom Extruder and PLC, Laser Rangefinder

Software: Rhinoceros 3D, superMatterTools

Previous knowledge required: Rhino modelling and Python coding is an advantage

Participants to bring: Laptops with Rhino 5 installed and RhinoPython loaded.  Required code libraries will be distributed via GitHub.

Images: Gramazio Kohler Research, ETH Zurich

Dynamo-BUILD! Dynamo-driven collaborative robotics for automated construction of spatial structures.

University/Organisation: Autodesk, Virginia Tech Center for Design Research,  Walter P Moore Engineering, MASS Design Group, Delcam

Description: Using a combination of Dynamo, Autodesk React Structures, and the new Dynamo-to-Robot workflow, this workshop will explore integrated computational design and structural optimization-to-robotic fabrication workflows to design, evaluate, and fabricate a large format prototypical spatial structure using human-machine collaboration. The Rob|Arch workshop will be the first public test of the new Dynamo-to-Robot plugin. This new plugin integrates into the advanced functionality of Dynamo to allow for the visualization of popular types of robots directly in the design environment and for simulation of possible toolpaths and movements.

Location: Pier 2/3

Duration: Tuesday 15th March – Thursday 17th March 2016 10am-5pm.

Workshop Co-Chairs: Nathan King, Nick Cote, Matt Jezyk, Gustav Fagerstrom, Mike Kirschner, Franck Messmer, and Nathan Melenbrink

Robot Workcell: 2 x ABB IRB 120s

Software:  Autodesk Dynamo Studio and Autodesk React Structures, Delcam PowerMill Robot

Previous knowledge required: General familiarity with some digital design environment is ideal but the workshop can be tailored to the expertise of the participants, programming or scripting skills not necessary. No previous Dynamo experience is needed.

Participants to bring: Laptops with Windows OS, All other software will be provided.

Direct Robot Control Through mxAutomation
SOLD OUT

University/Organisation:  KUKA Robotics & Association for Robots in Architecture

Description: In this workshop, Heinrich Munz, Lead Architect at KUKA, introduces the new mxAutomation framework that allows direct robot control from any system. The Association for Robots in Architecture will present a new software that builds upon this new interface, allowing the user to stream data to and from the robot.

Location: Pier 2/3 Walsh Bay

Duration: 1 Day Workshop: Mon 14th March 2016 10am-5pm.

Workshop Co-Chairs: Heinrich Munz, Johannes Braumann, Sigrid Brell-Cokcan

Robot Workcell: 1 x KUKA Agilus

Software:  KUKA|prc, KUKA mxAutomation, KUKA OfficeLite

Previous knowledge required: Participants should be experienced KUKA users.

Participants to bring: Windows laptop, software will be provided on-site

Truly Collaborative Robots

University/Organisation:  ABB

Description:  Demonstation and discussion of collaborative robots, YuMi and Robot Studio Software, including demonstration using Occulus Rift.

Location: Pier 2/3 Walsh Bay

Duration:  Mon 14th March 2016 10am-1pm.

Workshop Co-Chairs: Peter Katsos, Paolo Maggi

Robot Workcell:  YuMi

Special Hardware: Occulus Rift

Software:  Robot Studio Software

Previous knowledge required: none

Participants to bring: none

Human Robot Interactions

University/Organisation:  KUKA Robotics Australia

Description: This workshop will demonstrate how the some robots classified as collaborative can bring more to the design process than simply not requiring a safety fence. 40 years after the first industrial robot was used, new robots such as the KUKA LBR iiwa (intelligent industrial work assistant) utilize force torque sensing on all seven axis, allowing information to truly pass in both directions, as the human can tell the robot what it needs to do, but the robot can also feedback what it is doing.

Location: Pier 2/3 Walsh Bay

Duration: 3 hour course, Mon 14th March 2016 10am-5pm.

Workshop Co-Chairs: Greg Sale, Wade Leslie and David Hong

Robot Workcell: LBR iiwa Robot

Software:  KUKA Sunrise

Previous knowledge required:  none

Participants to bring: nothing

CADCAM Programming of a Robot with PowerMILL Robot
SOLD OUT

University/Organisation:  Delcam

Description: This workshop will demonstrate the creation of physical object from a virtual 3D (CAD) model using PowerMILL Robot software. Typical applications include large format architecture, movie props and sets (Weta Workshop), Marine (Southern Spars), and any industry requiring a flexible large format manufacturing facility. The result of the path planning will be the automatic creation of native KUKA robot language, which has been fully simulated and collision protected.

Location: University of Sydney, Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning, DMaF Lab

Duration: Mon 14th March 2016 10am-5pm.

Workshop Co-Chairs: Robert Simunic

Robot Workcell: KUKA KR120 & KR60 robot

Special Hardware:Spindle for cutting foam

Software: Delcam PowerMILL Robot software

Previous knowledge required: CAD Knowledge (Rhino, or other) – medium level

Participants to bring: Laptop with CAD program.

Grasshopper Basic Training Course

University/Organisation: University of Sydney, Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning

Description:  This course will introduce the basis concepts and features of Grasshopper, a parametric Rhino plugin. Explore and become familiar with the Grasshopper interface and learn a variety of techniques and tools for 2D and 3D parametric design.  This course is aimed at beginners in Grasshopper. The skills from this course can act as a precursor for further exploration of Grasshopper with plugins such as KUKA|PRC.

Location: University of Sydney: Faculty of Architecture Design and Planning. Room 262

Duration: 1 Day, Sun 13th March 2016 2-5pm.

Workshop Co-Chairs: Samantha Horlyck, Rodney Watt, Dylan Wozniak-O’Connor, Susana Alarcon Licona

Software: Grasshopper, Rhino 3D

Previous knowledge required: Rhinoceros 3D

Participants to bring: No required materials.