CAADRIA 2026 – Human–Machine Collaborative Timber Structure Assembly Using Relative Robotic System

During CAADRIA 2026, the project team led the workshop “Human–Machine Collaborative Assembly Using Relative Robotic System”, which explored robotic modular assembly for timber structures. Due to travel-related constraints, the workshop was adapted from an originally in-person format into a hybrid model, combining on-site AR-assisted assembly with remote robotic operation using our self-developed relative robotic system.

The workshop was led by Dr Ding Wen ‘Nic’ Bao and Prof Yi Min ‘Mike’ Xie, and the teaching team Harlan Zhaonan Guo, Jason Zhan, and Yang Yu. Together with the participants, the team constructed two small-scale timber prototypes using 3D-printed joints, mixed-reality guidance, and robotic assembly workflows. The prototypes served as testbeds for the broader research agenda within the ARC Advance Timber Hub, particularly under the Manufacturing Innovation research node 6.7 Project, which investigates future pathways for timber architecture, adaptive structures, and scaffold-free construction.

The workshop introduced participants to relative robotic systems, a construction approach in which robots navigate directly on partially assembled structures rather than relying on fixed ground-based reference frames. This enables more adaptive, mobile, and spatially responsive assembly processes. Participants worked in groups to develop assembly strategies for a modular timber truss system, using parametric design tools, robotic simulation, mixed-reality workflows, and on-site prototyping to evaluate feasibility.

A related peer-reviewed paper, “Parametric Joint Design for Irregular Timber Mixed-Reality Integration for Adaptive Human–Machine Assembly”, by Harlan Guo, Nic Bao and other co-authors, was accepted and presented at CAADRIA 2026.

Publication link:
https://papers.cumincad.org/data/works/att/caadria2026_508.pdf

Workshop link:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hdpIZliaQX8TCNz-Ti24pKDMc3rZxYRJI-lLOKhdI64/edit?usp=drive_link

Fabrication Team:  Fabrication Lead: Harlan Guo
Participants: Huanyang Li, Juntao Li,Kwong Lau Hung, Masaya Tanaka, Mengdi Mao, Mohamed Aboeloyoon, Pok Yin Victor LEUNG, Sakiko Noda, Samuel Leder, Sherlock Tsai, Ting-l)
Tsai, Yi Ru Liao
Technical support: Fologram and Karamba3D
Academic support: RMIT University RMIT Architecture RMIT College of Design and Social Context National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

In addition, Dr Nic Bao was honoured to have been re-elected as the Secretary of CAADRIA for another term, and advised “It is a privilege to continue serving the CAADRIA community and supporting the development of computational design research across the Asia-Pacific region.”