Disruptive Technologies  

A research group at the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia,  based in Barcelona set on a goal of re-imagining 3D printing techniques so as to overcome existing limitations of using the technology for constructing buildings.

Researchers from  the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, Spain have taken a 3D printing/additive manufacturing approach to architecture and have developed scale prototypes demonstrating their concept.

"Within the construction industry we haven't seen any disruptive technologies being introduced for almost a century," states the narrator of the team's film (below).  "We believe that robotics and additive manufacturing will play a key role in the construction industry of the future."

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Their most recent and innovative project entitled Minibuilders, uses small scale robots printing large scale structures.  This is different than other approaches used to 3D print buildings, that use machines that are as big or bigger than the structures being produced.

Minibuilders uses a family of small-scale construction robots which are mobile and capable of constructing objects far larger than the robot itself. Moreover, each of the robots developed performs a separate task, linked to the different phases of construction, finally working together as a family towards the implementation of a single building structure.

"We believe that robotics and additive manufacturing will play a key role in the construction industry of the future."

The researchers have also implemented a 1:1 scale prototype, printed by the three robots, and displayed at the Design Museum of Barcelona.



Minibuilders is a project of IAAC, Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, http://www.iaac.net developed during Open Thesis Fabrication in 2013 by:
Researchers: Shihui Jin, Stuart Maggs, Dori Sadan and Cristina Nan
Faculty: Saša Jokić and Petr Novikov
Sponsored by: SD Ventures

SOURCE  Minibuilders

By 33rd Square

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 Education  

It's science fair season again, and we're here to help you show your "mad scientist" side off. If you're interested in taking 1st place at your school's next science fair, try these ideas to leave the judges in awe.

It's science fair season again, and we're here to help you show your "mad scientist" side off. If you're interested in taking 1st place at your school's next science fair, try these ideas to leave the judges in awe.

Grow Bismuth Crystals

This first experiment (pictured above) is absolutely magical for kids of all ages. For this experiment, you'll need pure bismuth, a hot plate, and two heat-resistant metal cups. Since the bismuth will spend part of the experiment in its molten form, be sure to wear gloves! Pour the bismuth into a cup, then heat it up to around 500°F. Then, sift the bismuth into the second cup. Let the cup cool for about 30 seconds (or until the bismuth seems to solidify) and pour the remaining liquid bismuth off. If it's done right, you'll be left with rainbow geometric crystals that look like they belong in a geology museum!

Concrete Smash Off!

For this project, you'll use a bowling ball to test the strengths of different concrete mixtures. You will need four ingredients: water, sand, gravel, and concrete, plus a mold to make bricks with. Talk to an Outback Materials supplier in Fresno about getting smaller concrete mixes. For the mold, you can use an old Tupperware container. Make four different bricks, using varying ratios of concrete to the sand and gravel, but keep the amount of water the same. Then, make four more bricks, this time keeping the ratio of sand and gravel to concrete the same, however, use different amounts of water. Then, once your bricks have set, place a brick in a large, clear plastic container. Drop the bowling ball on each brick in turn, noting how different mixtures stand up to the destruction.

Show Me the Sugar

If you're really pinched for time, here's a really easy scie

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nce fair project that never fails to shock a parent or two. Find common snack foods, like soda and candy bars. Then, using the nutrition facts on the back, measure the amount of sugar in each snack. Pour that same amount into a plastic bag, or stack the equivalent amount of sugar cubes on a plate. You're sure to see some surprised faces when people find out just how much sugar was in their mid-afternoon snack!

These experiments are sure to leave your audience breathless. Just remember to wear the proper protection when conducting these experiments. With these ideas, you're sure to emerge the victor at your school's next science fair!
 

By Brooke Chaplan

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