ABSTRACT

Distributed forms of construction in the biological world are characterized by the ability to generate complex adaptable large-scale structures  with tunableproperties.  In  contrast,  state-of-the-art  digital  construction  platforms  in  design lacksuch abilities.  This  is mainly due to limitations associated with fixed and inflexible gantry sizesas well aschallenges associated with achieving additively manufacturing constructs that are at once structurally soundandmaterially tunable. To tackle these challengeswe propose a multi-nodal distributed construction approach that can enabledesign and construction of larger-than-gantry-size structures. The system cangenerate and respond tointegrated  real-time  feedback  for  parameters  such  as material curing durationand positionawareness. We demonstrate this approach througha software environment designed to controlmultiple robots operating collaboratively to additively manufacture large-scale structures. We present and report on a novel computational workflow as well aswork-in-progress ofa digital fabrication  environment.  The  environment  combinesa  centralized  system  designed  to  manage  top-down  design  intent given  byenvironmental  variables,  with  a  decentralized  system designed to compute, in a bottom up manner, parameters such as multi-noderule-based collision, asynchronous motion, multi-nodal construction sequence andvariable material deposition properties. The paper reports  on  a  successful  first  deployment  of  the  system  and  demonstrates  novel  features characteristic  of  fabrication-information modelling such asmulti-nodalcooperation, material-based flow and deposition, and environmentally informed digitalconstruction. Access CFP here.

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Modeling Behavior for Additive & Distributed Digital Construction