Robotic Manufacturing for Affecting Sound Through Complex Curved Geometries

Dagmar Reinhardt, Densil Cabrera, Marjo Niemela, Gabriele Ulaccoand Alexander JungAbstract Complex curved surfaces posit challenges for manufacturing, butbecome more available through the range of toolpaths that come with 6-axisrobotic fabrication. In this chapter, we present an in-progress report that exploresthe way in which an industrial 6-axis robot can become an interdisciplinaryresearch tool that produces space that is both immediate and responsive. We link arobotic code directly to acoustic equations, so that in a reverse engineering pro-cess, kuka|prc and robot reachability give boundary conditions for the consecutivedesign process. The chapter discusses a framework in which the robot is first usedas subtractive manufacturing device for cutting an acoustically performative space,and indicates future research into the potential of a robotic assessment of complexgeometries and the resulting acoustic performance. Through integration ofacoustic behaviour and robotic fabrication parameters, the production of a spacewith three distinct ‘sound colorations’ becomes possible. Furthermore, futureresearch is outlined whereby the robot acts as both hand and head: shaping anenvironment as both input and output device.