DIGITAL IMPROMPTU: real-time design and making through human-robot interaction

Abstract

Digital impromptu explores ways of bridging the gap between design thinking andproduction by integrating design parameters and materiality in a nonlinear interactive platform. Digital impromptu aims to bring back aspects of artisanal free-hand making into real-time digital prototyping with digital fabrication machinery like robotic arms. We seek to diminish the separation between design and fabrication by replacing step-by-step linear processes with adaptive design decision-making feedback loops in real time.