This document outlines a seminar on construction games for robots. The seminar will introduce students to the full design-to-production process for modular assembly, integrating construction set design, robotic assembly techniques, computer vision, and human-machine interaction. Students will design modular blocks and their connections, fabricate them using various methods, program a robot to assemble them, and create an interface for users to interact with the assembly process in real-time. The course consists of presentations, tutorials, group work, and three graded deliverables involving designing, modeling, and assembling modules.

1. Digital Design Unit — Digitales Gestalten Digital Design Unit — Digita
Construction Games
For Robots
Andrea Rossi
21.10.2016

2. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Summary
Source:“JuguettesdeConstruccion”,2016
• Course Aim
• Theoretical Background
• Process Description
• Reference Projects
• Course Structure
• Next Task

3. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Course Aim
Source:“JuguettesdeConstruccion”,2016
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

4. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Bits to Atoms <-> Atoms to Bits
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA-wcFtUBE4

5. “A digital material consists of a finite
number of building blocks which have
discrete joints and occupy discrete space.”
(Jonathan Ward, 2010)
Source:TheCenterforBitsandAtoms,MIT

6. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Sources:Wikipedia,MITCBA

7. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Sources:dubspot.cm

8. Discrete Position
Finite Number of Elements
Discrete Joints
Reversible Connection
Material-Independent
Self-Aligning & Error-Correcting
Source:TheCenterforBitsandAtoms,MIT

9. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Process - Design
Source:“JuguettesdeConstruccion”,2016
• Design of Individual Blocks
• Design of blocks connections
• Definition of rules for block
connection > design grammar
• Test of combination and
composition possibilities

10. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Process – Fabrication
Source:“JuguettesdeConstruccion”,2016
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?

11. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
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

13. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Process – Interaction
Source:“JuguettesdeConstruccion”,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

14. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Parallel
Gripper
Control
Board
Integrated
HD Camera

15. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016

16. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Reference Projects
• Jose Sanchez - Polyomino
• MIT CBA – Digital Materials Research
• Skylar Tibbits – Logic Matter
• Elegant Embellishment – ProSolve370E
• Self-Assembly Neighbourhoods
Source:“JuguettesdeConstruccion”,2016

17. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Source:www.plethora-project.com

18. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Source:www.plethora-project.com

19. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Source:www.plethora-project.com

20. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Source:www.plethora-project.com

21. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Source:www.plethora-project.com
https://vimeo.com/90921399

22. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Source:http://dma.cba.mit.edu

23. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Source:http://dma.cba.mit.edu

24. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Source:http://dma.cba.mit.edu

25. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Source:http://dma.cba.mit.edu

26. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Source:http://www.selfassemblylab.net

27. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Source:http://www.selfassemblylab.net

28. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Source:http://www.selfassemblylab.net

29. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Source:http://www.selfassemblylab.net

30. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Source:http://www.selfassemblylab.net

31. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Source:http://www.selfassemblylab.net

32. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Source:http://www.elegantembellishments.net

33. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Source:http://www.elegantembellishments.net

34. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Source:http://www.elegantembellishments.net

35. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Source:http://www.elegantembellishments.net/

36. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Source:http://www.tempautonarch.com

37. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Source:http://www.tempautonarch.com

38. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
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

39. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
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

40. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Calendar
Source:http://visitlegoliberty.com

41. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Course Blog
https://constructiongames4robots.wordpress.com/

42. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
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”

43. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
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

44. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
Next Task – Project Development

45. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
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

46. Construction Games for Robots, 21.10.2016
BE-AM Symposium – 27.10.2016
http://be-am.ddu-research.com/

47. Digital Design Unit — Digitales Gestalten