Robotic Fabrication

The integration of computational design and digital fabrication, including robotics, opens new possibilities for materialization in architecture. Beyond the automation of traditional fabrication techniques, robotics affords the opportunity to explore interactive and adaptive fabrication processes.

By participating in this course, students will gain a deeper understanding of the potential of robotic fabrication within the context of architecture and construction as well as proficiency in technologies for advanced fabrication of architectural systems, including the development of computational processes for experimental robotic fabrication. In particular, students will be able to understand and apply relevant techniques of robotic programming, development and prototyping of custom electronics and hardware, and adaptive fabrication. Lectures on these topics will be complemented by hands-on assignments where students are requested to engage practically with the course contents in small groups. This will enable students to investigate fabrication techniques in interdisciplinary teams as well as to develop digital fabrication skills. To conclude this course, participants will complete a final seminar project as a team combining the skills they have learned during the course.

The course lays the foundations for behavioral fabrication, which will be explored as part of the Computational Design and Simulation seminar. Where possible, synergies with the ITECH Research Pavilion will be encouraged.

Examination is based on the completion of intermediate assignments, final presentations and the submission of deliverables on ILIAS.

Final presentations: 14.7.2026
Documentation hand-in: 17.7.2026

The course will be conducted in person. Lecture content will be provided in class during live sessions. Lecture recordings will be posted to ILIAS after the live event to allow students to revisit lecture contents. The remaining time of the live sessions will be dedicated to tutorials and desk crits regarding assignment progress.

Assignments will be distributed and submitted through ILIAS. Students will be asked to complete assignments throughout the semester, two of which are hardware assignments, where access to some basic tools will be required. Regular access to robotic fabrication equipment in the Robolab to work on individual projects will be possible.