AA Digital Prototyping Lab Open Week Workshop
'Physical Computing'
6 - 10 February 2012
taught by Denis Vlieghe and Shankara Kothapuram

This five-day workshop is open to students from across the AA who are interested in data mapping through sensors and digital fabrication equipment, for use within their unit or programme work or as a short separate project. Workshop participants will operate in small teams, combining digital mapping of contextual data with the design of a process for its physical manifestation. Workshop tutors will introduce participants to Arduino microcontrollers and basic related scripting, allowing to set up a range of sensors and interactive actuators and producing a series of digital models and site-specific fabrications.

[Strategy]

Each team consisting of 2-4 students will have the responsibility of working in two fields during the duration of the workshop:
Field 1 will be the exploration of setting up sensing equipment at various locations within the AA premises to develop site-specific interactive scenarios. Each scenario leads to the collection of data from the site.
Field 2 will be related to data interpretation and materialization, extrapolating lists of numbers into digitally manufactured crafts. As data is collected, objects will be produced; the following set of data leads back into the loop being influenced by the previously created objects. The entire process results in an interactive device that has influenced itself in its own creation.

[Schedule]

Mon. 6/2/12
+ Workshop introduction
+ Team organisation
+ Choice of objectives – what to sense/what to design
+ Task distribution – Field1 / Field2
+ Physical computation basics, sensing and actuating
Tue. 7/2/12
+ Setup of the beta sensing prototypes
+ Extrapolation of the data collected
+ Preliminary tests of data materialisation
+ Preliminary tests of interactive installations
Wed. 8/2/12
+ Interactive objects on-site setup
+ Choice and adjustment of final models for manufacture
Thu. 9/2/12
+ Manufacture of the data models
+ Debugging of the interactive objects
Fri. 10/2/12
+ Final adjustments
+ Review with invited guests

Each team will need one Arduino starter kit that includes all electronic equipment required for this course. Students who do not have their own Arduino kit yet will have the possibility to purchase one during the workshop, at the price of £45.00. Additional equipment for actuation and communication will be available for purchase as well. The number of available places for this workshop is limited and students are recommended to apply early. Registration is free but participants are required to be available for the majority of the workshop days.

[Tutors]

Denis Vlieghe (Dip.Arch - High Dist.; M.Arch Architecture + Urbanism) is a designer, researcher, and tutor. He has worked in Belgium, Japan, and the UK, and on various international competition entries including the winning design of the Guangzhou Culture Center with Endo Shuhei. His work includes collaborations with Shigeru Ban, Biothing, Horhizon, Tommorrow’s Thoughts Today, Robofold and Space Agency and has been exhibited in London and in the Netherlands. He has lectured and taught courses and workshops in the AA, the University of Tokyo, TU Munich and TU Innsbruck. Denis is also independently researching generative processes inspired by biology, physics, new technologies and pop-culture, with applications ranging from accessories, robots and computer programs to architectural objects such as pavilions and responsive installations.

Shankara Kothapuram (B.Arch; M.Arch Architecture + Urbanism) is a designer, researcher and social activist. He has worked on architectural projects at varying scales in India, Singapore, China and the UK. His work experience consists of time spent as a designer at various organisations and architectural offices: Foundacion Vincente Ferrer, Aarambh, Zaha Hadid Architects, Advani & Associates and Space Agency. Shankara’s interests lie in the architectural and social manifestation of digital design and contemporary fabrication technologies.

APPLICATIONS:
Apply for this workshop by sending an email to workshop@digitalfabrication.net
SPACES ARE LIMITED - EARLY APPLICATION RECOMMENDED !