AADRL | Minusplus

Minusplus investigates the use of multicopters (UAVs) to continuously 3d print and reconfigure a temporal architecture that adapts, learning from people’s behavioural feedback. The research employs reversible lightweight materials of low melting-point that are easily 3d printed, re-melted and re-printed by UAVs. Bottom-up swarm building strategies are utilised that enable real-time design and construction to emerge from individual and collective flight behaviours are utilised in combination with material deposition techniques, building strategies, site observation and user feedback initiatives

The research explores material behaviour, flight control and swarm collaboration through both physical and digital experiments. 3D printing hardware, material deposition and flight control strategies are developed for outdoor deployment and indoor laboratory environment testing. Beeswax and tethered UAV printing hardware are developed for indoor testing, while light-weight metal alloys are utilised for outdoor printing. Both materials demonstrate a low-melting point and controllable phase changing properties that enable the strategic employment of dripping for structural reinforcement and bonding when desirable. Both materials are also able to be easily re-melted and re-printed numerous times. Several flight control systems are developed that enable 3d printing trajectories to incorporate micro-movements that harness the mechanical capabilities of the multi-copters through scripted manoeuvres along with real-time autonomous decision-making utilising onboard and off-board computer-vision feedback.

Minusplus’s design proposal explores the Southbank area of the Thames River in London as a test-bed for a continuously changing public space where aerial 3d printed construction could adapt and reconfigure the site’s multi-level outdoor spaces that comprise of a mixture of podiums, esplanades, walls, green spaces and pathways. These spaces engage in diverse uses and pedestrian flows throughout the year and host a range of temporary events. The project aims to transform the existing spaces of the site into a continuously changing architectural environment that allows for construction and deconstruction over time in relation to human behaviours and events. Human occupation and use of the site will inform an adaptive learning construction algorithm that will aim to remove under-utilised or problematic constructions whilst enhancing or repeating well-received building activities.