Book Hive - Interactive Book Installation

Ryan Nance January 3, 2014

Book Hive is an interactive sculpture created to celebrate the 400 year anniversary of Bristol Libraries, and it will ultimately feature 400 animatronic books. Large wooden structures awash with honey light will engulf visitors in an immersive and atmospheric environment, where life-like animated books, inhabiting the cells will physically engage visitors, reacting to their movements in the space. Book Hive is a three month project, where the public gets the opportunity to influence its development. Rusty Squid will observe the public’s behaviour, and with the assistance of the Book Hive Keepers (exhibition stewards), collect feedback, in order to transform the shape of the hive and the way that the books respond. This evolution will take place over two months, between December and February, with the full 400 books installed by 7th February 2014.

via Faith is Torment

Box: Projection Mapping Merged with Robotics to Create This

Ryan Nance September 26, 2013

Box explores the synthesis of real and digital space through projection-mapping onto moving surfaces. The short film documents a live performance, captured entirely in camera. http://www.botndolly.com/box CREDITS Production Company: BOT & DOLLY Executive Producers: Bill Galusha, Nick Read Creative & Technical Director: Tarik Abdel-Gawad Design Director: Bradley G Munkowitz Lead Graphic Designers: Bradley G Munkowitz, Jason English Kerr 3D Artists: Scott Pagano, Bradley G Munkowitz, Jason English Kerr, Conor Grebel 2D Animators: Conor Grebel, Ben Hawkins, Pedro Figueira Director of Photography: Joe Picard Lighting Designers: Joe Picard, Phil Reyneri Projection / TouchDesigner: Phil Reyneri Robotics Animation: Tarik Abdel-Gawad, Brandon Kruysman, George Banks, Michael Beardsworth Robotics Operator: Michael Beardsworth, Brandon Kruysman Prop Fabrication: Matt Bitterman, Ethan Dale Script Supervisor: Ian Colon Sound Engineers: Joe Picard, Michael Beardsworth PAs: Sean Servis, Dakota Smith, Nico Mizono, Eric Wendel, Patrick Walsh Editors: Ashley Rodholm, Ian Colon Music / Sound Design: Keith Ruggiero Sound Mix: Joel Raabe Performers: Tarik Abdel-Gawad, Iris, Scout

From the video page:

“Box” explores the synthesis of real and digital space through projection-mapping on moving surfaces. The short film documents a live performance, captured entirely in camera. Bot & Dolly produced this work to serve as both an artistic statement and technical demonstration. It is the culmination of multiple technologies, including large scale robotics, projection mapping, and software engineering. We believe this methodology has tremendous potential to radically transform theatrical presentations, and define new genres of expression.

Robot that 'Draws' in 3D

Ryan Nance May 28, 2013

MATAERIAL is the result of the collaborative research between Petr Novikov, Saša Jokić from the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) and Joris Laarman Studio. IAAC tutors representing Open Thesis Fabrication Program provided their advice and professional expertise. During the course of the research we developed a brand new digital fabrication method and a working prototype that can open a door to a number of practical applications. The method that we call Anti·gravity Object Modeling has a Patent-Pending status. www.mataerial.com Soundtrack: Mémoire - La Mer http://soundcloud.com/memoiremusic

From the project page:

"MATAERIAL is the result of the collaborative research between Petr Novikov, Saša Jokić from the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) and Joris Laarman Studio. IAAC tutors representing Open Thesis Fabrication Program provided their advice and professional expertise. During the course of the research we developed a brand new digital fabrication method and a working prototype that can open a door to a number of practical applications. The method that we call Anti·gravity Object Modeling has a Patent-Pending status."

see also Layers of Resin used to Paint incredibly life-like animals in 3D by Keng Lye

via Beautiful Decay

Giant Robot That Kids Control

Ryan Nance April 29, 2013

New Machine Test www.sakakibara-kikai.co.jp

At about $20,000, this 6ft tall giant robot is more than just a toy. It's an actual kid-controlled robot, from Japanese company Sakakibara Kikai.

With hand controls, kids can have it do simple movements with its arms. The robot can walk forwards, backwards and can even turn a full circle.

via Design Taxi

5 - A Robot That Prints Buildings Out of Sand

Ryan Nance August 20, 2012

Three architecture students from Spain have developed the Stone Spray Project: a robot that uses CAD drawings to program a robot to 'print' buildings out of sand using a special binding agent. I would imagine that bonded sand would have remarkable compressive strength. Not so sure about tensile, shear and torsional strength. I am really interested to see if/when this moves past the proof of concept phase.

A research project Stone Spray done by Anna Kulik, Inder Shergill and Petr Novikov under the supervision of Marta Male-Alemany, Jordi Portell and Miquel Lloveras in the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia in the year 2012. The goal of the project was to research the field of additive manufacturing in architecture and to propose a new eco-friendly, efficient and interesting system to print architecture in 3d. As a result a robot and series of samples were created. Also a book describing the project was published. The group would like to additionally thank Santiago Martin, Guillem Comprodon and Luis Fraguada for their help in this project. Music: Nicolas Jaar - Wouh More information can be found on the website of the project: stonespray.com

via Co.Design