Robotic construction of shell structures

建筑工程施工（AEC）行业正在走向彻底的变革，因为机器人和自动化的颠覆性技术和发展正在允许对制造和施工的替代技术进行研究。通过开发新的软件工具，新的制造技术、它们对建筑的适应性和设计师之间的联系正在得到加强，使设计师有更大的能力在结构中实现复杂的几何形状。在这个项目中，将探索壳体结构设计，机器人装配过程，以及机器能力和设计要求之间的联系，为建筑师提供工具和方法，以推动通过自动化在结构上实现的能力。机器人将被编程，通过基于这种探索做出明智的决定，开始自由形式的壳体结构的自动化组装。 该研究的目的是-开发关于组装过程的新知识，以创建自支撑结构，以便利用机器人技术实现美学建筑-创建和测试用于设计和自动化建造全尺寸建筑外壳的新系统，通过机器人机械臂将整个组装过程考虑在内，例如在工厂组件装配中使用的那些-以在整个设计过程中发展对可能的优化的理解，以及计算工具如何在设计过程中用作半自主代理-了解自动化如何继续改善建筑工程施工行业，并推动建筑自动化领域的发展。 为了实现这些目标，计算机辅助设计（CAD）软件将与机器人模拟和运动规划工具相结合，并在必要时与结构分析软件相结合，以便探索各种几何设计的可行性。这种集成将允许进一步探索现实世界的约束将如何影响设计过程，从而在更早的阶段了解可能的情况。在可能的情况下，将进行实验，以验证理论设计和自动化方案，利用机械手机器人与适当的机电工具。 该项目将通过利用制造技术和机器人技术的最新进展，为建筑复杂几何形状的设计到制造提供新颖的端到端工具和技术，这既有利于AEC社区，也有利于更广泛的科学界，同时重点关注建筑和建筑环境中的ICT组合，规划智能，而下一代机器人制造技术有望帮助设计、建筑和工程领域的未来应用。

The Architecture Engineering Construction (AEC) industry is moving towards radical transformations, as disruptive technologies and developments in robotics and automation are allowing the investigation of alternative techniques for fabrication and construction. The connection between novel manufacturing techniques, their adaptation to construction, and the designer is being strengthened through the development of novel software tools, giving the designer greater power to realise complex geometries in structures. In this project, an exploration will be made of shell structure design, robotic assembly processes, and the link between machine capabilities and design requirements, to provide architects with tools and methods to push the capabilities of what can be realised structurally through automation. Robots will be programmed, through informed decisions made based on this exploration, to begin the automated assembly of free form shell structures. The aims of the research are - to develop new knowledge on assembly processes for the purposes of creating self-supporting structures, in order to utilise robotics to realise aesthetic architectures - to create and test a novel system for the design and automated construction of full-scale architectural shells, factoring in the entire assembly process by robotic manipulator arms, such as those utilised in factory component assembly - to develop understanding of optimisations possible throughout the design process, and how computation tools might be used as semi-autonomous agents within the design process - to gain an understanding of how automation might go on to improve the Architecture Engineering Construction industry, and to advance the field of automation in construction. In order to achieve these aims, computer aided design (CAD) software will be integrated with robotics simulation and motion planning tools, in parallel with structural analysis software where required, such that a variety of geometric designs may be explored for feasibility of construction. This integration will allow further exploration of how real-world constraints will affect the design process, giving an understanding of what may be possible at a much earlier stage. Where possible, experiments will be done to validate theoretical designs and automation schemes utilising manipulator robots with appropriate electromechanical tooling. This project will provide novel end-to-end tools and techniques for the design-to-manufacture of architecturally complex geometries, through the leverage of recent advances in manufacturing techniques and robotics, both for the benefit of the AEC community and the wider scientific community, whilst the focus on a combination of ICT in construction and built environments, intelligence in planning, and next-generation robotic manufacture stands to potentially aid future applications within design, construction and engineering sectors.