SBIR Phase II: Computer-Aided Mosaic Design and Construction

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This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will develop a computer-aided mosaicdesign and robotic assembly system for automation of a centuries-old manual process. Despite theirprominence in art and architecture, mosaics are arduous to design and assemble. Labor-intensivemethods have stubbornly resisted automation, adding considerable cost and delay to projects. Artaic'sPhase I research proved feasibility of computer-aided design software to create renderings and digitalblueprints of artisanal mosaics by introducing a streamlined, procedural workflow for tile layout thatclosely mimicked the workflow of mosaic artists, and did so over 10x faster than manual methods. Thegoal of the Phase II research is to demonstrate the speed, effectiveness, utility, and artistic quality of this mosaic design and robotic assembly system. The key Phase II objectives are to: (1) demonstrate aprototype artisanal mosaic design system and; (2) demonstrate a robotic mosaic production system, thatwill be: (3) validated for accuracy, speed, and quality through user assessment, and; (4) evaluated foreconomic and commercial potential. Anticipated technical results will enable a revolutionaryadvancement from manual to automated processes in mosaic design and production, comparable to thedisplacement of film by digital camera technology.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project lies in art, design, construction, andarchitecture. Software and robotic automation will lower the cost of mosaics and increase its traditionalsocietal impact of adorning public, commercial, and residential spaces. Artists, designers, and builderswill have a significantly faster method to produce artisanal mosaics without the high cost andtime associated with manual design and production. The efficiencies made possible by this proposedcomputer-aided mosaic design and manufacturing system will enable Artaic to expand into the globalmulti-billion dollar tile market and develop a domestic workforce to compete against globalmanufacturers of handcrafted mosaic artwork. Additionally, the computational demands of the renderingalgorithms developed during Phase II will give impetus to further development of advanced GPUs andCPUs -- with companies such as Intel, Nvidia, and AMD providing solutions for increasingly moreadvanced rendering algorithms. Perhaps the most significant societal benefit from the development ofthis technology is its potential to make artisanal mosaic design and production accessible and affordableto the general public, and because this research enables any Photoshop artist to become a mosaic artist, italso hold significant promise as an educational tool in our nation's schools.