Virtual bloXing - assembly rapid prototyping for near net shapes

Virtual reality (VR) provides another dimension to many engineering applications. Its immersive and interactive nature allows an intuitive approach to study both cognitive activities and performance evaluation. Market competitiveness means having products meet form, fit and function quickly. Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (RP&M) technologies are increasingly being applied to produce functional prototypes and the direct manufacturing of small components. Despite its flexibility, these systems have common drawbacks such as slow build rates, a limited number of build axes (typically one) and the need for post processing. This paper presents a Virtual Assembly Rapid Prototyping (VARP) project which involves evaluating cognitive activities in assembly tasks based on the adoption of immersive virtual reality along with a novel nonlayered rapid prototyping for near net shape (NNS) manufacturing of components. It is envisaged that this integrated project will facilitate a better understanding of design for manufacture and assembly by utilising equivalent scale digital and physical prototyping in one rapid prototyping system. The state of the art of the VARP project is also presented in this paper

Virtual assembly rapid prototyping of near net shapes

Virtual reality (VR) provides another dimension to many engineering applications. Its immersive and interactive nature allows an intuitive approach to study both cognitive activities and performance evaluation. Market competitiveness means having products meet form, fit and function quickly. Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (RP&M) technologies are increasingly being applied to produce functional prototypes and the direct manufacturing of small components. Despite its flexibility, these systems have common drawbacks such as slow build rates, a limited number of build axes (typically one) and the need for post processing. This paper presents a Virtual Assembly Rapid Prototyping (VARP) project which involves evaluating cognitive activities in assembly tasks based on the adoption of immersive virtual reality along with a novel non-layered rapid prototyping for near net shape (NNS) manufacturing of components. It is envisaged that this integrated project will facilitate a better understanding of design for manufacture and assembly by utilising equivalent scale digital and physical prototyping in one rapid prototyping system. The state of the art of the VARP project is also presented in this paper

I Can See Your Aim: Estimating User Attention From Gaze For Handheld Robot Collaboration

This paper explores the estimation of user attention in the setting of a cooperative handheld robot: a robot designed to behave as a handheld tool but that has levels of task knowledge. We use a tool-mounted gaze tracking system, which, after modelling via a pilot study, we use as a proxy for estimating the attention of the user. This information is then used for cooperation with users in a task of selecting and engaging with objects on a dynamic screen. Via a video game setup, we test various degrees of robot autonomy from fully autonomous, where the robot knows what it has to do and acts, to no autonomy where the user is in full control of the task. Our results measure performance and subjective metrics and show how the attention model benefits the interaction and preference of users.Comment: this is a corrected version of the one that was published at IROS 201

SPATA: Spatio-tangible tools for fabrication-aware design

The physical tools used when designing new objects for digital fabrication are mature, yet disconnected from their virtual accompaniments. SPATA is the digital adaptation of two spatial measurement tools, that explores their closer integration into virtual design environments. We adapt two of the traditional measurement tools: calipers and protractors. Both tools can measure, transfer, and present size and angle. Their close integration into different design environments makes tasks more fluid and convenient. We describe the tools' design, a prototype implementation, integration into different environments, and application scenarios validating the concept

Digital materials

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Architecture and Planning, Program in Media Arts and Sciences, 2010.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 43-44).This thesis develops the use of additive assembly of press-fit digital materials as a new rapid-prototyping process. Digital materials consist of a finite set of parts that have discrete connections and occupy discrete space. Part geometries were designed and fabricated at different scales from different materials, including hierarchical voxels which connect across different scales. All parts were designed to be vertically assembled with top and bottom connections. Digital materials are discussed as a new way for building physically reconfigurable, multi-material 3D structures. The parts were designed with press-fit connectors to build reversible assemblies to take full advantage of reuse and recycling. This document starts by describing some current technologies in the fields of rapid-prototyping and personal fabrication. The concept for a press-fit digital materials is defined and explained. Many part designs are documented, including conductor and insulator parts for SOIC-pitch 3D circuits and hierarchical assemblies. This thesis concludes with the design and concept for assembly machine to automate building functional digital materials.by Jonathan Ward.S.M

Molecular access to multi-dimensionally encoded information

Polymer scientist have only recently realized that information storage on the molecular level is not only restricted to DNA-based systems. Similar encoding and decoding of data have been demonstrated on synthetic polymers that could overcome some of the drawbacks associated with DNA, such as the ability to make use of a larger monomer alphabet. This feature article describes some of the recent data storage strategies that were investigated, ranging from writing information on linear sequence-defined macromolecules up to layer-by-layer casted surfaces and QR codes. In addition, some strategies to increase storage density are elaborated and some trends regarding future perspectives on molecular data storage from the literature are critically evaluated. This work ends with highlighting the demand for new strategies setting up reliable solutions for future data management technologies

Augmented manual fabrication methods for 2D tool positioning and 3D sculpting

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2013.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 67-75).Augmented manual fabrication involves using digital technology to assist a user engaged in a manual fabrication task. Methods in this space aim to combine the abilities of a human operator, such as motion planning and large-range mechanical manipulation, with technological capabilities that compensate for the operator's areas of weakness, such as precise 3D sensing, manipulation of complex shape data, and millimeter-scale actuation. This thesis presents two new augmented manual fabrication methods. The first is a method for helping a sculptor create an object that precisely matches the shape of a digital 3D model. In this approach, a projector-camera pair is used to scan a sculpture in progress, and the resulting scan data is compared to the target 3D model. The system then computes the changes necessary to bring the physical sculpture closer to the target 3D shape, and projects guidance directly onto the sculpture that indicates where and how the sculpture should be changed, such as by adding or removing material. We describe multiple types of guidance that can be used to direct the sculptor, as well as several related applications of this technique. The second method described in this thesis is a means of precisely positioning a handheld tool on a sheet of material using a hybrid digital-manual approach. An operator is responsible for manually moving a frame containing the tool to the approximate neighborhood of the desired position. The device then detects the frame's position and uses digitally-controlled actuators to move the tool within the frame to the exact target position. By doing this in a real time feedback loop, a tool can be smoothly moved along a digitally-specified 2D path, allowing many types of digital fabrication over an unlimited range using an inexpensive handheld tool.by Alec Rivers.Ph.D