RoMA: Robotic 3D Printing and Augmented Reality Combine in Interactive Fabrication Platform
Cornell University Researcher Huaishu Peng has been wprling o m3D printing, augmented reality and robotics combined. He is working on a Robotic Modeling Assistant, RoMA, created by Peng and his team.
Peng is interested in the technical aspects of human-computer interaction (HCI), and designs software and hardware systems to enable 3D modeling with interactive experiences, as well as making functional objects using custom fabrication machines.
Peng wrote, “I envision that in the future (1) people will design both the form and the function of everyday objects and (2) a personal fabrication machine will construct not only the 3D appearance, but also the interactivity of its prints.“
The article gives details of all the researchers working on the project. Details of the abstract are given. As a designer is using RoMA’s AR CAD editor to draw a new 3D model in the air, a 3D printing robotic arm is building features to augment the model at the same time, in the same design volume.
Then, the partially 3D printed model can act as the designer’s physical point of reference while they continue to add elements to the design.
According to the paper, “To use the RoMA system, a designer wears an Augmented Reality (AR) headset and starts designing inside the print volume using a pair of AR controllers. As soon as a design feature is completed, the RoMA robotic arm prints the new feature onsite, starting in the back half of the design volume. At any time, the designer can bring printed features into the front half of the design volume for use as a physical reference. As she does so, the robot updates its schedule and prints another available part of the model. Once she finishes a design, the designer steps back, allowing the robotic system to take full control of the build platform to finish printing.”
It’s almost like a 3D printing pen, but on a much larger scale, with AR technology and a robotic arm controlling the 3D printing process.
RoMA users are able to, according to the project page, “integrate real-world constraints into a design rapidly, allowing them to create well-proportioned tangible artefacts,” and even extend an object through in-situ fabrication.
There are details of the project design and inclusion of AR technology in the full article.