Soft Office: a human-robot collaborative system for adaptive spatial configuration.

Area of Science:

• Architecture and Robotics
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Sustainable Design

Background:

• Commercial architecture faces challenges in adapting to fluid occupant needs for sustainable interiors.
• Existing research in architectural robotics, in situ fabrication, and adaptive architecture provides context.
• The need for responsive environments is highlighted by factors like social distancing requirements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a methodology for spatial configuration using a custom collaborative robotic system.
• To explore novel human-robot interactions in architectural reconfiguration.
• To empower occupants with agency in dynamically adapting their built environment.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a custom collaborative robotic interior reconfiguration system.
• Integration of human users and task-specific robots performing complementary tasks.
• Utilization of evaluative criteria to define and predict successful spatial configurations.

Main Results:

• A functional system for dynamic spatial reconfiguration was established.
• The research demonstrates a shift from construction automation to interactive architectural systems.
• Human users are positioned as designers, workers, and consumers of architectural outcomes.

Conclusions:

• The Soft Office project offers a new paradigm for human-robot collaboration in architecture.
• Occupant agency in environmental reconfiguration is significantly enhanced.
• Future architectural fabrication technologies can be developed with task-specific, architecture-embedded robotic systems.