Swarm Materialization Through Discrete, Nonsequential Additive Fabrication

Abstract

Biological design is able to achieve remarkable functionality, resilience and adaptability without relying on centralized coordination or resource-intense materials. Agent-based construction seeks to emulate these advantages, but the two common approaches - swarm robotics and fully virtual agent simulations - are held back by limitations that are difficult to overcome in isolation. Here we demonstrate initial steps towards the application of biological design principles, particularly the so-called Bernard Machine. 3D printing is used to materialize the actions of virtual agents in a physical environment. Such an arena requires a shift from monolithic printing processes to interactive ones: assemblage printing. We demonstrate an alternative to conventional slicer-controlled printing that is discrete and to an extent nonsequential and which forms the foundation for assemblage printing. In its extension it allows for the exploration of a fully agent-based construction process.