petebooth[iaac]

Looks like it has been a great night with rhinoScript. I have spent the last 4 hours working away at this and it now creates the central hole without many problems (I’m sure they are in there, I just have to discover them). The next step will be to add the cross-section pieces.

download the script here

Andrea and I  have our script to a point where it will draw a plane and surface (based on 3 of 4 points) and position it to the corresponing point on the first curve selected. The next challenge is to make a new surface based upon the intersection points of each surface and the 4 curves.  There is still a very long way to go…..

you can download the script and rhino test file here

The script that I proposed for my box will:

• rotate the box slowly, touch sensor will increase speed of rotation
• light and speaker will activate alternatively.
• when sound is detected the light will flash faster
• when light is detected the speaker will sound faster and at a hight pitch

In emergency housing situations the manner in which solutions manage the cost and timing of deployment is perhaps one of its most critical factors. The Instant House, project developed for MIT’s Separtment of Architecture, by Marcel Botha and Lawrence D. Sass, tries to achieve a fast, cost effective system relying on digital technologies. This example studies the nature in which design and digital fabrication can be utilized as a relief effort for natural disaster areas, refugee camps or any other improvised emergency human habitat. It promotes the use of a system that is rapidly deployable and scalable, while fostering individuality within the larger rebuilt community.

Botha and Sass intend to create an atypical solution in large quantities for emergency, transitional and developing contexts, while giving agency to the end user, through generative computational methods and CNC fabrication techniques. The process lends itself to customization, embodying principles of lean production, flexible computer-integrated manufacturing strategies and reduced cycle times. A direct instantaneous link can be established between generative design and fabrication and evaluation system. The end user can participate in this decision process, without incurring cost beyond the initial technological infrastructure.

The Instant House ships as a flat packed structure ready for implementation. A generative system that mechanizes the interaction between user, designer and fabrication, attempts to effectively deploy customized dwellings without incurring a cost premium. It is not intended that the process proliferates cosmetic change, but more importantly structural and spatial variation.

More information can be found here and here.

My group, rocket3, were required to design a bridge that spanned 1m and was 7cm wide out of 200 straws, string, sticky tape and 1 sheet of flimsy corrugated cardboard, while taking a live load of 600 grams.  I don’t really know how this is considered a ‘complex’ project for a masters program, but ours supports the load effectively and efficiently.

you can download the PDF here

Erik and I have completed our week 4 intrim crit.

You can download the PDF file here.

Andrea and I have created a project plan for our scripting assignment until the end of semester. Hope that our technical know-how is up to the challange.

download a PDF version here.

What is it that makes us who we are? What are the non-physical capabilities and traits that make us all unique from one-another? How can these specific skills be measured? Most importantly, how can these non-tangible aspects be represented in a physical condition?
In order to represent a human brain abstractly, our proposal considers four aspects of an individual brain: cognition (logic and memory), motor skills (hand-eye co-ordination), visual (visual memory and association) and audio (sound memory and association). A series of 3 tests in each of the 4 areas will be conducted to assess an individuals capabilities and traits.

The unique data will be used to drive a parametric model based upon each individual. As the data is abstract, the possibility for abstract physical representation is possible. For this reason, our physical object could be anything; a desk, a chair, a jacket, a pen or a building. This proposal represents the abstract data as a lamp, uniquely formed and constructed to a persons test results.

In an ideal world the test would be quite long, and widely varied, in order to assess each person more closely and create a lamp that is more finely tuned to the abilities. The lamps parameters will be driven by a combination of the test results; the corner heights of each skill box will be varied to create a unique form for each. The perforation pattern will be directly related to the physical size of each side of the 4 boxes, providing 17 different lighting diffusing screens for the lamp.

The finished product will combine a mixture of opaque semi-opaque plastic folded forms, wrapped around the internal light tube which will be situated on solid MDF or plywood base.

Georgia and I presented our progress within our Digital Techtonics Research Seminr today.  The semesters project is to create a house within a defined set of rules, that can me modified into an infinite number of variations.

The conceptual beginning of the project deals with subtracted space within a solid form and its ability to define spatial parameters inside without the need for additional internal elements.  We used a series of houses by Japanese architect Chiba Manabu as a case study reference as his traditional methods of building conception also deal with subtractive space.
The images above and below explain the set of constrained rules that we created in order

Click on the images to see a larger version with a more detailed explanation of the parameters and possible variations.

Before you even read on any further have a look at this youtube video of the object.

The Cloud, by UK based Troika, is a installation for British Airways in the new Heathrow Terminal 5. The completely CNC fabricated 5m long struture is clad in no less than 4638 flip-dots, which were traditionally used in the 70’s and 80’s on public signs at train stations and airports. The visual and audio qualities that over 4000 mirror discs have as the flip individual are completely reminiscent of travel, and are perfectly suited for the entry to the luxury lounge of the terminal.

Each of the flip-dots are individually computer controlled, programmable by processing. The dots are individually connected to one of two solid state electronic drives, which in turn are linked to 134 smaller distribution boards within the object. In total, almost 5000m of wiring is hidden beneath the clouds glimmering surface.

There is also a great video of the installation process on youtube here.