Sigrid Brell-Cokcan (Pres. of the Assoc. for Robots in Arch) headed the panel discussion which discussed and addressed the various challenges and problem faced by today’s construction industry trying to implement robotics. Johannes Braumann (Association for Robots in Architecture, UfG Linz) conducted the KUKAprc robotic workshop which showcased the use of newly developed KUKA|prc software plugin in Autodesk Dynamo for parametrically controlling robots.

Following the workshop, researchers Sven Stumm and Pradeep Devadass from Individualized Production, demonstrated fabrication and assembly of complex space frame timber system using mobile robotics employing the KUKA KMR iiwa.

Sven Stumm and Pradeep Devadass presented their research papers on “Haptic Programming” and “Altered Behaviour” respectively at the conference.

The Chair for Individualized Construction in Architecture has been invited to the [Robodonien Festival] (https://www.robodonien.de/festival/) in Cologne. The research project “Robot assisted plasma cutting” was presented by reserachers Ethan Kerber and Rushi Dai. During the festival they show the audience the new technologies of robotic fabrication and let them interact with industrial machines and tools. The visitors were able to cut and weld in cooperation with the robot under supervision. The result of this workshop was a steel tree with all participant name tags on it. The demonstration at Robodonien was reported in a German Make online magazine (heise). You can read all about, [how IP is the next Generation for Robodonien] (https://www.heise.de/make/meldung/Robodonien-2018-Koelns-Roboter-Kunst-Festival-feiert-10-jaehriges-Jubilaeum-4167257.html). A big thank you to our partner KUKA, our hosts at Robodonien, our computer scientist Sven Stumm and our student assistants Tobias Heimig, Xiao Ge, Carlos Kempf and Felix Reuter!

Johannes Braumann (Association for Robots in Architecture, UfG Linz), Sven Stumm and Pradeep Devadass (Researchers at Individualized Production, RWTH) conducted Construction Robotics Workshop at the AEC Hackathon 2018 which was held from 20th to 22nd July in TU Berlin. The workshop demonstrated robotic 3d printing of complex ceramic elements using the newly developed robotics software, KUKAprc for Autodesk Dynamo.

The AEC hackathon 2018 was followed by the ISARC 2018 annual conference where Sven Stumm presented his research paper on “Towards Robotic Fabrication in Joining of Steel”.

Liebherr, KUKA and Autodesk join with RWTH institutes in the Center Construction Robotics to research the automation of construction

Aachen, July 20, 2018 – Liebherr with the division Tower Cranes, Kuka as provider for automation solutions, the software company Autodesk and the RWTH Aachen University with its three chairs (Individualized Production, Institute of Steel Construction | Sustainable Metal Building Envelopes, Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering WZL | production metrology and quality management) announced their collaboration in the field of robotics for the building industry today. The industrial consortium is conducting research together with the interdisciplinary team of scientist in the newly founded Center Construction Robotics on the RWTH Aachen Campus. The Center is under the scientific direction of Professor Sigrid Brell-Cokcan (Chair for Individualized Production), Professor Robert Schmitt (Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering WZL | production metrology and quality management) and Professor Markus Kuhnhenne (Institute of Steel Construction | Sustainable Metal Building Envelopes).

The building industry has great great potential with regard to robot-based automation. Using the example of large scale and complex facade elements and their production, the previously non-existent continuous digital chain from planning to production and assembly is to be demonstrated. The Center Construction Robotics pursues the common goal to develop the construction site of the future by means of digitalization from pre-production along the whole value chain towards a semi-automated construction site.

For more information see also the RWTH Aachen Campus website.

We are looking for several student assistant to support us. If you are interested in working on new and existing topics in order to bridge the gap between construction and robotics, this might be for you. In the following fields we are currently looking for new student assistants

We look forward to hearing from you!