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CRAFT
Center for Rapid Automated Fabrication Technologies
Viterbi School of Engineering
.
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Technology Demonstrations
Industrial Parts
& Molds
Extraterrestrial
Construction
– Mega-Scale Layered Fabrication –
Architectural
Scale Models
Freestanding Objects
Public Art
A House in a Day
Economic Impact
Social Impact
Environmental Impact
Regulatory Impact
Grand Challenge
Architectural Impact
Extrudable Materials
and Fabrication
Modular Components
and Assembly
Employment Impact
Integrated Software
Systems
Technology Thrusts
Materials/Structures
Composite Materials
Fluid Dynamics
Novel Structure Testing
Sensing/Acting
Systems/Processes
Freeform/Geometry
Dynamic Modeling
and Control
Embedding Capabilities
during Fabrication
Workflow & Logistics
Planning
Multi-Robot
Coordination
Real-Time Inspection
Collaborative Design
Mathematical Models
of Fabrication Processes
Feasible Geometry
Reasoning
4D Modeling
and Visualization
System Performance
Testing and Evaluation
Fundamental Research
Viterbi School of Engineering
.
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CRAFT - Vision and Goals
To develop the science and engineering needed for rapid
automated fabrication of structures of various scales, up to
very large objects such as buildings.
The goal is a major breakthrough in Mega-Scale fabrication.
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Grand Challenge
Building a custom-designed house in a day while radically reducing the costs,
injuries, waste and environmental impact associated with traditional construction
techniques.
affordable housing for the 30 million U.S. households facing cost burdens or
overcrowding;
emergency housing for the 37 million/year victims of natural (and/or manmade) disasters;
new styles of housing based on curved rather than straight surfaces;
extraterrestrial buildings constructed from in situ materials;
With national construction-related expenditures currently totaling close to $1
trillion annually, the potential impact is enormous.
The goal: a revolution in housing construction
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Grand Challenge – a house in a day
Economic Impact
Employment Impact
Social Impact
Regulatory Impact
Environmental Impact
Architectural Impact
Viterbi School of Engineering
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Development Phases
USC
2005
Multi-material
nozzle assembly
Building
simple walls
2008
Sensor
embedding/testing
Multi-material
simple structures
Door/window with
lintel/sacrificial support
Flat roof
construction
Simple
Simple
Room
Room
Multi-cross
Beam gantry
Single
Single
Residence
Residence
Composites & reinforcement
Multi-story
Multi-story
Multi-unit
Multi-unit
Digital construction material
Multi-material delivery
Process modeling
Structure testing & modeling:
Visual alignment
Multi-robot
Surface quality inspection
Complex geometry
Video logging
Structural health monitoring
Collaborative Assembly
Structure feasibility
Fabrication plan generation
Reinforcement/Plumbing/Electrical
Logistic planning
Integrated
Software
Systems
Intelligent CAD/CAM
Modular
Components
and Assembly
Control system: Basic Geometry
Whole structure testing
Community
Community
&&
Infrastructure
Infrastructure
Extrudable
Materials
& Fabrication
Single material delivery
2010
Community-scale
logistics planning
Supportless
roofs
Walls w/complex
geometry
Modular reinforcement/
electrical/plumbing
Material engineering
2009
Grand Challenge
Single-Material
nozzle/feed
2006
Viterbi School of Engineering
.
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Technology Demonstrations
Industrial Parts
& Molds
Extraterrestrial
Construction
– Mega-Scale Layered Fabrication –
Architectural
Scale Models
Freestanding Objects
Public Art
A House in a Day
Economic Impact
Social Impact
Environmental Impact
Regulatory Impact
Grand Challenge
Architectural Impact
Extrudable Materials
and Fabrication
Modular Components
and Assembly
Employment Impact
Integrated Software
Systems
Technology Thrusts
Materials/Structures
Composite Materials
Fluid Dynamics
Novel Structure Testing
Sensing/Acting
Systems/Processes
Freeform/Geometry
Dynamic Modeling
and Control
Embedding Capabilities
during Fabrication
Workflow & Logistics
Planning
Multi-Robot
Coordination
Real-Time Inspection
Collaborative Design
Mathematical Models
of Fabrication Processes
Feasible Geometry
Reasoning
4D Modeling
and Visualization
System Performance
Testing and Evaluation
Fundamental Research
Viterbi School of Engineering
.
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Interrelationships among the three research thrusts
Architectural
Design
Logistics plan
Integrated
Software
Systems
Nozzle path plan
Modular
Assembly plans
Components
Inspection plan
Supply Dispatch
Indexed Video Log
Structure design &
Performance
Requirements
Extrudable
Materials &
Fabrication
& Assembly
Commands
CC
Hardware
Hardware
Feedback
Sensory Data
Visual Data
Performance
Restrictions
Robot
Predictive
performance
Viterbi School of Engineering
.
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Extrudable materials & fabrication
• Perform underlying basic research
necessary to develop the materials and
structures for automated mega-scale
fabrication
• Integrate materials into ultra-efficient
structures
• Integrate materials with delivery systems
and robots from other thrusts
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Robotics fab, modular components & assembly
• Perform research and develop various mono and distributed robots,
tools, software and their integration into systems for assembling
modules in situ to form functional attributes of structures
• Robots’ locations, movements and working areas are dynamically
changing along with environment. Develop a mathematical /
geometric model of environment and a robot coordination protocol.
• Perform the fundamental research in the modules to be placed
internal to the extruded material that transform an extrusion into a
functional wall or roof of a mega-scale structure. The modules that
make a post-modern interactive structure include:
• normal reinforcing, plumbing, and electricity conduits
• Integrated communication, interactive sensing and displays
• Integrate the Modules and Assembly Thrust with Extruded Materials
and Software
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Viterbi School of Engineering
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Embedding IT components
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Automated Painting
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Dynamic Control
Flow Sensor
Material Flow
Computation
Desired
Material
Flow
-
+
Flow Control
Law
Material Flow
Dynamics
System
Dynamics
Position Sensor
Commanded
Position
+
Nozzle Control
Law
Gantry Motion
Controller
Nozzle Actuator
Robot Wheel
Motors
Nozzle
Forces
Wheel
Torques
Gantry
Dynamic
Model
Material
Flow
Nozzle
Position &
Orientation
Gantry
Position
Position Sensors
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Goals
• Perform the fundamental research
and develop the software
components for automating megascale fabrication
• Integrate components with each
other and with robots from other
thrusts
Viterbi School of Engineering
.
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Viterbi School of Engineering
.
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Industrial Sectors
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Materials
Construction
Equipment
Software
Architects
Real Estate
Other application sectors
Viterbi School of Engineering
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Industrial Membership
Industrial membership – 3 tiers
–
–
–
Senior Member - $100,000
Regular Member - $20,000 to $50,000
Technology Associate – small business
Benefits to Industry
–
–
–
–
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Seat on CRAFT ERC industrial advisory board – Senior Member
Licensing (Senior Member – exclusive)
Focused research projects
Access to cutting edge research
Access to center facilities and expertise for R&D projects
Contact with graduate students
Industry-University exchange program
SBIR and STTR partnerships
Industry-University Company Day – Senior Member
Viterbi School of Engineering
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Expressions of Support
• Materials
–
–
–
–
–
–
Degussa Corporation (committed)
Maxit Group (committed)
CEMEX
Elotex
ECRA (European Cement Research Academy)
VDZ (German Concrete Research Academy)
• Equipment
– Siemens
– John Deere
– Parker-Hannifan
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Expressions of Support
• Construction
– Shea Homes
– Parsons
– Shimizu
– Bechtel
– Boeing (space)
• Government
– NASA (committed)
– U.S. Army
Viterbi School of Engineering
.
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Expressions of Support
• Architects
– GL Forms (Greg Lynn)
– Gehry Technologies
– Cal-Earth
• Real Estate
– ConAm (builds low income housing in
Mexico)
– Regency Outdoor Advertising
Viterbi School of Engineering
.
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Management Plan
Provost
Executive Board:
Provost (USC)
Vice Provost, Research (USC)
Dean of VSoE (USC)
Director of ISI (USC)
Dean of Engineering
Scientific Advisory board
Industrial Advisory Board
Khoshnevis
Director
Student Leadership Council
Rosenbloom
Deputy Director
Education Director
Pre-College (K-12)
Undergraduate & Graduate
Outreach
CREST/LSAMP
EPICS/LINC/Fablabs
Industrial Liaison Director
Joe Sullivan
Associate Director
Grand Challenge
Technology Thrusts:
Extrudable Materials & Fabrication
Modular Components & Assembly
Integrated Software Systems (Neches/Rosenbloom)
Industry Participation
Faculty Mini-Sabbatical
Technology Transfer
Intellectual Property
Viterbi School of Engineering
.
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Thank you
please visit
www.ContourCrafting.org
Viterbi School of Engineering
.