A new breed of sustainable augmented urban furniture. Designing for extrusion-based additive manufacturing

Abstract

Cyber-physical devices are the backbone of a postdigital society in which the virtual and real spaces are seamlessly integrated by ubiquitous computing, networking and IoT. The design, fabrication and deployment of such devices in public space are central subjects of a strategic Research Project multidisciplinary team from architecture, product design, polymer science and ICT R&D units, bridging the gap between urban intelligence, physical and digital elements. A shared commitment to develop replicable local and sustainable added value products to drive new uses of urban spaces. This objective is materialized in a full-scale outdoorready demonstrator of a modular augmented street furniture system comprising: (i) cyber-components, (ii) solar energy, (iii) recycled plastic, and (iv) robotic extrusion-based additive manufacturing (EBAM). At a first stage, the demonstrator was thought to support University Campus activities and facilitate common urban tasks that also takes advantage of renewable energy sources to further create awareness of global pressing issues. The research project literature review was materialized in a case study Atlas of urban interactive cyber-physical devices, identifying design, sustainability and deployment strategies. Alongside an organized design workshop, it fed the demonstrator’s design guidelines, which focused on: (i) product design process, (ii) interaction design and digital twin, (iii) renewable energy and electronic components integration, (iv) material and fabrication process, and (v) deployment evaluation. Fabrication tests and prototypes are being conducted in a large-scale robotic arm EBAM setup, using rPET pellet and experiencing with functional additives from local natural waste origin (e.g., olive pit). The design team coordination task is being supported by a digital workflow, based on Grasshopper VPL, which encompasses: (i) 3d modelling and parametrization, (ii) stress analysis, (iii) infill pattern generation, (iv) slicing and path analysis, (v) fabrication simulation and robotic control code generation.