Constructing living buildings: a review of relevant technologies for a novel application of biohybrid robotics

Biohybrid robotics takes an engineering approach to the expansion and exploitation of biological behaviours for application to automated tasks. Here, we identify the construction of living buildings and infrastructure as a high-potential application domain for biohybrid robotics, and review technological advances relevant to its future development. Construction, civil infrastructure maintenance and building occupancy in the last decades have comprised a major portion of economic production, energy consumption and carbon emissions. Integrating biological organisms into automated construction tasks and permanent building components therefore has high potential for impact. Live materials can provide several advantages over standard synthetic construction materials, including self-repair of damage, increase rather than degradation of structural performance over time, resilience to corrosive environments, support of biodiversity, and mitigation of urban heat islands. Here, we review relevant technologies, which are currently disparate. They span robotics, self-organizing systems, artificial life, construction automation, structural engineering, architecture, bioengineering, biomaterials, and molecular and cellular biology. In these disciplines, developments relevant to biohybrid construction and living buildings are in the early stages, and typically are not exchanged between disciplines. We, therefore, consider this review useful to the future development of biohybrid engineering for this highly interdisciplinary application.publishe

Proceedings of the 2021 DigitalFUTURES

This open access book is a compilation of selected papers from 2021 DigitalFUTURES—The 3rd International Conference on Computational Design and Robotic Fabrication (CDRF 2021). The work focuses on novel techniques for computational design and robotic fabrication. The contents make valuable contributions to academic researchers, designers, and engineers in the industry. As well, readers encounter new ideas about understanding material intelligence in architecture

Fungi for material futures: The role of design

The last decade has seen a rapid growth in design interest, research and development of mycelium-based technologies for various applications across textiles, fashion, product, furniture and architecture domains. Building on an ancient relationship between fungi and humankind – well documented by ethnomycology literature and advanced through both biotechnology and creative practice – a new partnership between design, science and industry leaders has pioneered the market introduction of fungi-derived products. The careful crafting of material, aesthetic and performance properties, paired with an open, collaborative and conscious approach to material innovation, has meant that the early concept designs, protypes, and commercially realised applications, present a holistically considered future of mycelium products, environments and systems. This chapter charts an overview of key moments, considerations and stakeholders in this growing design domain, with a view to providing a resource for the next generation of innovators, who will advance the scope and future applications of fungi in design

Exploring Materiality and Connectivity in Anthropology and Beyond

Exploring Materiality and Connectivity in Anthropology and Beyond provides a new look at the old anthropological concern with materiality and connectivity. It understands materiality not as defined property of some-thing, nor does it take connectivity as merely a relation between discrete entities. Somewhat akin to Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, it sees materiality and connectivity as two interrelated modes in which an entity is, or more precisely – is becoming, in the world. The question, thus, is how these two modes of becoming relate and fold into each other. Throughout the four-year research process that led to this book, the authors approached this question not just from a theoretical perspective; taking the suggestion of 'thinking through things' literally and methodologically seriously, the first two workshops were dedicated to practical, hands-on exercises working with things. From these workshops a series of installations emerged, straddling the boundaries of art and academia. These installations served as artistic-academic interventions during the final symposium and are featured alongside the other academic contributions to this volume. Throughout this process, two main themes emerged and structure Part II, Movement and Growth, and Part III, Dissolution and Traces, of the present volume, respectively. Part I, Conceptual Grounds, consists of two chapters offering conceptual takes on things and ties – one from anthropology and one from archaeology. As interrelated modes of becoming, materiality and connectivity make it necessary to coalesce things and ties into thing~ties – an insight toward which the chapters and interventions came from different sides, and one in which the initial proposition of the editors still shines through. Throughout the pages of this volume, we invite the reader to travel beyond imaginaries of a universe of separate planets united by connections, and to venture with us instead into the thicket of thing~ties in which we live

Exploring Materiality and Connectivity in Anthropology and Beyond

Exploring Materiality and Connectivity in Anthropology and Beyond provides a new look at the old anthropological concern with materiality and connectivity. It understands materiality not as defined property of some-thing, nor does it take connectivity as merely a relation between discreet entities. Somewhat akin to Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, it sees materiality and connectivity as two interrelated modes in which an entity is, or more precisely – is becoming, in the world. The question, thus, is how these two modes of becoming relate and fold into each other. Throughout the four-year research process that led to this book, the authors approached this question not just from a theoretical perspective; taking the suggestion of “thinking through things” literally and methodologically seriously, the first two workshops were dedicated to practical, hands-on exercises working with things. From these workshops a series of installations emerged, straddling the boundaries of art and academia. These installations served as artistic-academic interventions during the final symposium and are featured alongside the other academic contributions to this volume. Throughout this process, two main themes emerged and structure Part II, Movement and Growth, and Part III, Dissolution and Traces, of the present volume, respectively. Part I, Conceptual Grounds, consists of two chapters offering conceptual takes on things and ties – one from anthropology and one from archaeology. As interrelated modes of becoming, materiality and connectivity make it necessary to coalesce things and ties into thing~ties – an insight toward which the chapters and interventions came from different sides, and one in which the initial proposition of the editors still shines through. Throughout the pages of this volume, we invite the reader to travel beyond imaginaries of a universe of separate planets united by connections, and to venture with us instead into the thicket of thing~ties in which we live

Exploring Materiality and Connectivity in Anthropology and Beyond

Exploring Materiality and Connectivity in Anthropology and Beyond provides a new look at the old anthropological concern with materiality and connectivity. It understands materiality not as defined property of some-thing, nor does it take connectivity as merely a relation between discrete entities. Somewhat akin to Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, it sees materiality and connectivity as two interrelated modes in which an entity is, or more precisely – is becoming, in the world. The question, thus, is how these two modes of becoming relate and fold into each other. Throughout the four-year research process that led to this book, the authors approached this question not just from a theoretical perspective; taking the suggestion of 'thinking through things' literally and methodologically seriously, the first two workshops were dedicated to practical, hands-on exercises working with things. From these workshops a series of installations emerged, straddling the boundaries of art and academia. These installations served as artistic-academic interventions during the final symposium and are featured alongside the other academic contributions to this volume. Throughout this process, two main themes emerged and structure Part II, Movement and Growth, and Part III, Dissolution and Traces, of the present volume, respectively. Part I, Conceptual Grounds, consists of two chapters offering conceptual takes on things and ties – one from anthropology and one from archaeology. As interrelated modes of becoming, materiality and connectivity make it necessary to coalesce things and ties into thing~ties – an insight toward which the chapters and interventions came from different sides, and one in which the initial proposition of the editors still shines through. Throughout the pages of this volume, we invite the reader to travel beyond imaginaries of a universe of separate planets united by connections, and to venture with us instead into the thicket of thing~ties in which we live

Surface engineering by titanium particulate injection mounding

In a recent study a structural hold down component was designed and produced using the particulate injection moulding (PIM) process. The material of choice was titanium due not only to the material properties but also due to the desire to create custom made components for a state-of-the-art marine vessel. On removal from the mould the green parts were seen to have an irregular surface on the top face. The irregular surface presented no through part defects and although the surface irregularities were caused by separation of the two-phases the effect was restricted to the outer surface of the parts. In a more historic study by the author the surface properties of titanium dental implants were modified by the use of adaptive mould inserts during the moulding phase of PIM. These two contrasting studies are considered and have become the basis of a current investigation looking to engineer surface irregularities in an ordered fashion. The application of meso-machining, and additive manufacture are considered and the functionality which may arise are presented

Development of innovative cross-disciplinary engineering showcase

The development of engineering education relies substantially on interactive showcases and practical knowledge. The cross-disciplinary engineering showcase is designed to be fully interactive by having user input, producing a tangible output, and to understand distinct elements from each of the engineering disciplines such as, civil, mechanical and electrical (CME). The showcase operates from the input of mechanical rotational energy by the user pedalling the exercycle. Mechanical energy is then transferred to the pump via a gear train, which converts the user input of 30 rpm to the optimal pump operating speed of 2900 rpm. Further, it is used to pump water from the lower eservoir to the upper reservoir via one of the three flow paths, which the user can select by opening or closing flow valves. Once the water reaches a given height, it then flows back to the lower reservoir via a micro-hydro generator. As a result, it generates electrical energy stored in a power bank that can be used by the user to charge a digital device. Also, the showcase has a QR code to digital media, which will provide an additional explanation/exposition of the presented engineering principles to the user/students. The aim of this project is to develop a cross- disciplinary engineering showcase to enhance student learnings by interpreting the CME engineering principles in schools, institutes, and universities

Development of innovative cross-disciplinary engineering showcase

The development of engineering education relies substantially on interactive showcases and practical knowledge. The cross-disciplinary engineering showcase is designed to be fully interactive by having user input, producing a tangible output, and to understand distinct elements from each of the engineering disciplines such as, civil, mechanical and electrical (CME). The showcase operates from the input of mechanical rotational energy by the user pedalling the exercycle. Mechanical energy is then transferred to the pump via a gear train, which converts the user input of 30 rpm to the optimal pump operating speed of 2900 rpm. Further, it is used to pump water from the lower eservoir to the upper reservoir via one of the three flow paths, which the user can select by opening or closing flow valves. Once the water reaches a given height, it then flows back to the lower reservoir via a micro-hydro generator. As a result, it generates electrical energy stored in a power bank that can be used by the user to charge a digital device. Also, the showcase has a QR code to digital media, which will provide an additional explanation/exposition of the presented engineering principles to the user/students. The aim of this project is to develop a cross- disciplinary engineering showcase to enhance student learnings by interpreting the CME engineering principles in schools, institutes, and universities