Low-power robotic construction

To enable the scalable construction of structures with compact robotic systems, the SPARC Lab develops low-power construction methods for mass-efficient structures. We also develop multi-agent construction systems with efficient task coordination and planning.

One construction approach developed by SPARC lab, termed Bend-Forming, combines CNC wire bending with mechanical joints to fabricate load-bearing truss structures from spooled ductile feedstock. Bend-Forming can fabricate complex truss geometries including isogrid columns, curved gridshells, and tetrahedral trusses (Bhundiya et al., 2022; Bhundiya & Cordero, 2023). Integrating Bend-Forming with electrostatic actuation also enables smart structures and novel applications, such as electrostatically-actuated communication antennas (Zhang et al., 2024).