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R_Lab: Made by Robots (ABPL90412)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
Please refer to the return to campus page for more information on these delivery modes and students who can enrol in each mode based on their location.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Summer Term
Overview
Availability(Quotas apply) | Summer Term Winter Term |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
The use of robots in the design and construction of buildings and structures provides a new set of opportunities for architects, engineers, and designers. Robots and the processes developed, enable the design of architectures and constructions while controlling uncertainties of complex systems in ways that humans cannot.
In this elective, students will design an object or structure that is based on parametric design principles. Allowing students to develop non-standard objects and structures of infinite variability will open up new and exciting design possibilities. The use of robots will allow students to produce prototypes of these designs, while developing an understanding of an established robotic fabrication workflow.
In this elective, students will learn the skills required to design structures for robotic fabrication, program robots to construct, and how to apply the workflow to an architectural application.
The first half of the semester will focus on developing robotic related skills and understanding of the fabrication process. This will be delivered by a variety of small design and fabrication exercises (to be completed in groups). In the second half of the semester, students (in groups of three to five) will develop a design concept and agenda (as a major project). The design of this project will include iterative prototyping through fabrication. The final project will demonstrate an understanding of the robotic fabrication process and its architectural application, while creating an aesthetic object with a high level of formal complexity – generated through the use of parametric design principles.
Students will be required to have a basic understanding of Rhino, as well as a willingness to learn and engage with Grasshopper. Students will be provided with plug-and-play grasshopper scripts for programming robots. A high level of technical support will be provided by subject tutors and Robotics Lab technical staff. Resources for students to improve their Grasshopper capabilities will be provided.
No knowledge of robots, coding or computer programming is required for this elective!
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of the subject, students should be able to:
- Develop a design agenda and concept for an architectural outcome utilising the robotic fabrication process.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the applied fabrication process.
- Demonstrate an understanding of application of robotic fabrication to architectural design and construction.
- Apply critical thinking to the assessment of design proposals and make changes based on the assessment.
Generic skills
- Critical design thinking and analysis;
- Basic Robotic Fabrication Techniques.
- Basic Industrial Robot Programming.
- Physical and Digital Prototyping.
- Time and project management
- Ability to integrate digital tools and physical prototyping in the design process.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Admission into one of the following courses:
- MC-ARCH Master of Architecture
- MC-ARCH2Y Master of Architecture (200 points)
- MC-ARCH3Y Master of Architecture (300 points)
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Students will be required to have a basic understanding of Rhino, as well as a willingness to learn and engage with Grasshopper
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Design and make Exercise 1
| Week 1 | 10% |
Design and make Exercise 2
| Week 3 | 20% |
Final Project
| Week 6 | 50% |
Design Journal
| End of the assessment period | 20% |
Additional details
Note: contact hours in workshops are interactive time, that contributes to the assessment.
Assessment due dates - Winter Term availability
- Design and make Exercise required approximately 40 hours of work, due week 2 of teaching period, worth 30%.
- Final project, required approximately 65- 70 hours of work, due week 4 of teaching period, worth 50%.
- Design Journal, required 26- 30 hours of work, due end of the assessment period, worth 20%.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- Summer Term
Principal coordinator Rochus Hinkel Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 36 hours over 6 weeks Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 18 January 2021 to 26 February 2021 Last self-enrol date 4 January 2021 Census date 29 January 2021 Last date to withdraw without fail 12 February 2021 Assessment period ends 5 March 2021 Summer Term contact information
- Winter Term
Coordinator Rochus Hinkel Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 36 hours Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 28 June 2021 to 22 July 2021 Last self-enrol date 5 July 2021 Census date 9 July 2021 Last date to withdraw without fail 23 July 2021 Assessment period ends 29 July 2021
Additional delivery details
Quota=16
Selection Criteria: Selection is on a first-come, first-served basis.
This subject has an automated quota. Your enrolment confirms your space in this subject. If you choose to withdraw from this subject you will be forfeiting your space and may be unable to enrol again.
For detailed information on the quota subject application process and due dates, refer to the EDSC Quota Subjects web page: http://edsc.unimelb.edu.au/quota-subjects
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Incidental costs
Costs to Students: Students will be required to purchase all materials used for the development of their design and the production of the final piece. All fabrication costs will be provided for free if the student chooses to use the facilities with the ABP makerspaces. Costs are typically between $100-$300 and vary dependant on chosen materials and processes.
Last updated: 3 November 2022