Back to the future with robotic printed art
THE first robotic printed bridges in the world, made with modified plastic, were unveiled this week at Tongji University as one of highlights of the “DigitalFUTURE Shanghai” exhibition.
Two black 3D printed bridges, spanning over 4 meters and 11 meters respectively, sit at the entrance to the exhibition hall on campus.
The larger bridge, carrying at least five adults at the same time, was the latest exploration of 3D printing technology on a robotic platform by teacher and students of Tongji University.
Tongji professors stand on the 3D printed bridge.
Other works on display include 3D printed garments using nylon SLS printing technology, conceptual shell designs with thin sheet materials, and a large scale spatial folding device that combines myriad possibilities on complex geometric forms with physical models.
In the courtyard of the exhibition hall stands a gridshell wooden pavilion that measures two-floor tall. Based on the gridshell structure, the student team explores the potential of “post-forming” wooden gridshell in free-form structures. The final structure was made and assembled with robotic fabrication tools.
Conceptual shell design
There also is student project focusing on behavior visualization, by collecting data with indoor positioning system. Through analysis, the researchers look deeper into the behavior of habitants in the building space.
All the works and projects are done by more than 300 students with the background of architecture and urban planning from around the world, under the construction of Tongji professors and other leading experts. The exhibition runs through July 14.
A gridshell wooden pavilion
