The robotic positioning of fabric formwork

The method proposed is derived from a parametric workflow that employs the precision of 6-axis robots and the flexibility of fabric to rapidly create a fabric formwork. Complex geometries can be cost-effectively executed in a precise digital to physical workflow. Conventional concrete casting techniques are labor-intensive, material-intensive and inaccurate, making them unsustainable and inefficient for facades with variable, organic geometries. As a result, parametric design must be rationalized and reduced to meet the requirements of conventional construction techniques. After consideration of some historical and commercial antecedents as well as current applications, a six-axis system is delineated using identical flexible fabric sleeves. Custom built end effectors are positioned by a pair of programmed six-axis industrial robots to capture and stretch the sleeves into positions based on locations extracted from a 3D model. An intricate series of unique objects are composed as dictated by the design. Custom, large-scale assemblies are proposed for manufacture to meet the specific project needs of load-bearing facades and glazing modules.