Multi-Actor Fabrication for Digital Timber Construction

Abstract

The research presented in this paper focusses on the prefabrication of wood building systems using human craft and robotic machines as equal actors in collaborative fabrication processes. It uses self-developed components such as a data managing framework system to generate and exchange fabrication data between the design elements and the fabrication environment. Human robot collaboration via augmented reality (AR) technology is facilitated through a software framework and applied in the prefabrication of timber structures. Based on previous research, this iteration uses the concept of multi-actor fabrication and extends the number of human actors in the fabrication process. A case study was conducted for the collaborative fabrication of a timber structure. Five actors (four humans and one 7-axis robotic system) received instructions based on their individual skill set and collectively manufactured a timber structure in an organized workflow.