Project R-15556

Virtual robotic prototyping: Novel technologies and tools for the design and immersive testing of human-machine interfaces through mixed-reality and actuated props. (Research)

Imagine the shift from broad-audience entertainment in the living room TV era to the personalized experience of smartphones—now applied to physical products, where consumers can create, design, and manifest their own objects through the emerging paradigm of Personal Fabrication. As digital fabrication and robotics advance, the boundary between virtual design and physical prototyping continues to blur. This research explores novel computational design approaches for creating interactive physical prototypes that integrate virtual modeling, digital fabrication, mixed-reality tools, various 3D printing techniques, robotic actuation and human-robot interaction. Specifically, we will investigate how props can be actuated to represent multiple aspects of a virtual prototype at the same time. Prototypes of interactive systems, with computationally designed props offering tactile feedback, will be developed and tested to evaluate their potential for improving iterative design processes. Through this exploration, the research seeks to contribute more efficient and adaptive methods for integrating digital and physical prototyping in the design and testing of human machine interfaces.

01 January 2025 - 31 October 2028