German architects recently developed one of the world’s first robotic canopy’s that not only builds itself autonomously, but also gauges how large it must be based on the number of visitors at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, UK. (via V&A twitter)
German architects Achim Menges and Moritz Dörstelmann, along with climate engineer Thomas Auer and structural engineer Jan Knippers recently created one of the most innovative architectural structures in the world. The Elytra Filament Pavilion is a robotic canopy that builds itself and can even determine its ideal size almost entirely autonomously.
Knippers and Menges are the innovators behind the University of Stuttgart research institute for biomimicry, robotic fabrication, and new materials design in architecture. The Elytra Filament Pavilion is the team’s first major project n the UK, and is living proof of the incredible design inspiration nature has to offer.
The Pavilion is based on biomimicry of the elytra wings of the flying beetle. Like the wings of the beetle, the smaller structures that make up the roof of the canopy feature sturdy supportive exteriors, like hardened beetle wing casing, and soft, strong inner filaments, much like a beetle’s interior wings. Each individual structure weighs only 77lbs and is built by an accompanying robot.
By using a winding, or spinning, technique, the team’s Kuka robot can weave a dynamic canopy of glass and carbon fiber autonomously. The structures are inspired by nature further, to incorporate a lightweight design that is still sturdy and beautiful. The filament structure at the time of writing this piece weighs less than 2.5 tons, and is less than 200 square meters, but it’s growing every day.
The researchers also analyze data based on the number of visitors that frequent the Victoria and Albert Museum in London (where the Pavilion is currently installed), and the robot determines if additional roofing structures are needed, how many, and where.
The Elytra Filament Pavilion is on display until November, and offers a stark contrasting method for architectural design. Like biochemistry, biopharmaceutical development, and quantum physics, science innovators are beginning to take inspiration from nature to further push the boundaries of our modern world. The Pavilion is just one of the early structures that may give us insight into the buildings and structures to be developed in the very near future.
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