Robotic City
Robots and other smart machines have the potential to dramatically change the human environment and the shape of our cities. Technological innovation can further reduce the need for physical labor and create a richer, healthier and more comfortable life for many. It can enable us to populate cities more densely while providing more quality of living. But how exactly will we live, how will the city change and in which shape will robotics invade our lives?
A robot senses the world that surrounds it.
It computes the information it receives.
It acts in the world.
It responds to uncertain environments.
The Why Factory has so far run a number of projects that explore various aspects of the Robotic city. We looked at the future of personal transportation, urban foodproduction and cargo handling.
In the Transformer project, we currently explore how an individually changeable housing unit can provide more living space in smaller envelops and what public spaces moving and changing buildings will provide.
The focus of this spring’s new Robotic City studio will be urban products that can change the city, make it smarter, more effective and better to live. The inspiration of the products and designs can come from two directions: You can look at current elements or processes of the city and propose how they can improve. And you can look at current innovations in technologies and think of an application in the urban field. How will people move through the Robotic City? What is the potential of high-tech green areas and parks? How are goods moved around and what will new infrastructural networks provide?
In each case, the design is worked out on a detailed scale and the impact is shown for the large system of the city. We are looking for innovative thinkers and talented designers to work on the future image of the Robotic city!
Tutors
Prof. Winy Maas, Ulf Hackauf, Pirjo Haikola, Tihmaer Salij
Students
Edoardo Felici, Khalid Ghobashi, Ahmet Korfali, Maarten Haspels