Handbook home
R_Lab: Made by Robots (ABPL90412)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
To learn more, visit COVID-19 course and subject delivery.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Overview
Availability(Quotas apply) | Semester 1 Semester 2 |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
R_Lab: Made by Robots is part of the Digital Design and Fabrication Electives, which offer students the opportunity to build and demonstrate expertise and competence in the understanding and application of contemporary design tools that inform and shape students’ design process and thinking. Digital Design and Fabrication Electives are based on a culture of experimenting and making – applying contemporary design and making tools to create advanced physical and digital artefacts and environments. For more detailed information concerning the respective tutors, design approaches and previous examples as well as other offerings in the Digital Design and Fabrication Electives suite please check on the ADD+F Research Hub website under teaching and learning: https://msd.unimelb.edu.au/addf
R_Lab introduces students to the use of robots in the design and construction of buildings and structures, which 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. Allowing students to develop non-standard objects and structures of infinite variability creates novel design possibilities.
R_Lab students learn robotic related skills and an understanding of the fabrication process to produce prototypes while developing an understanding of an established robotic fabrication workflow. Students demonstrate the capability to design structures for robotic fabrication, program robots to construct, and apply the workflow to an architectural application. The process will include iterative prototyping through fabrication. In their final project students 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.
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: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Admission into one of the following:
- MC-ARCH Master of Architecture
- MC-ARCLARC Master of Architecture/Master of Landscape Architecture
- MC-ARCHUP Master of Architecture/Master of Urban Planning
- MC-ARCHUD Master of Architecture/Master of Urban Design
- MC-LARCH Master of Landscape Architecture
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Students are required to have good knowledge of 3D modelling software Rhinoceros 3D as well as layout software like Indesign, image software like Photoshop; as well as a willingness to learn and engage with the visual programming language 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 coding or computer programming is required.
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: 31 January 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Design Review 1
| From Week 3 to Week 4 | 15% |
Design Review 2
| From Week 7 to Week 8 | 15% |
Final Design Review with verbal presentation
| During the examination period | 50% |
Design Journal
| During the examination period | 20% |
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Coordinator Rochus Hinkel Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 3 hours per week Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 28 February 2022 to 29 May 2022 Last self-enrol date 18 February 2022 Census date 31 March 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 6 May 2022 Assessment period ends 24 June 2022 - Semester 2
Coordinator Rochus Hinkel Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 3 hours per week Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 25 July 2022 to 23 October 2022 Last self-enrol date 4 July 2022 Census date 31 August 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 23 September 2022 Assessment period ends 18 November 2022
Additional delivery details
Quota=16
This subject is a quota subject and places are limited. Students may provisionally enrol via the Student Portal, but places are not guaranteed until selection is completed. You will be notified in writing by the Student Centre if you are selected.
Selection Criteria:Students who have provisionally enrolled in the subject must provide
a brief 3-5 pages portfolio (2-3 projects of their design work) and an approx. 100-word statement outlining why they are interested in the subject. Submission of the application is to be emailed directly to the subject coordinator Associate Professor Rochus Hinkel (rochus.hinkel@unimelb.edu.au) no later than three weeks before the start of the teaching period.
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: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Incidental costs
Costs to Students: In combination with prototyping and fabrication students should allow for a minimum of 100-200 AUD to cover material costs; costs often depend on students' choice of material.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 31 January 2024