Pradeep.Devadass

'A robotically extruded sugar waste composite for a circular biomateriality in architecture' published in Structures and Architecture: A Viable Urban Perspective by Jingyuan Meng, D. Alnaeb, Anete Krista Salmane, Pradeep Devadass, M. Cruz, Brenda Parker. This research presents an integrated workflow for scaling fabrication using Cal-x, a biopolymer composite derived from calcium carbonate waste from sugar refining. Robotic 3D printing enabled customised construction responding to the material’s properties, culminating in a 4 × 2 m prototype exploring the interface between material development, design, and robotic extrusion. The resulting installation, Calcareous Arabesque, exhibited at the Design Museum London, demonstrates a porous architectural wall system and highlights the potential of industrial by-products in circular biomaterial construction. @bio_id /10.1201/9781003023555-16 Supported by Peter Scully, Mark Burrows, Vincent Huyghe, Guillem Perutxet Olesti, Melis Van Den Berg, Hamish Veitch, James Lawrence Sponsor: Tate & Lyle Sugars / John Kerr and Clara Aymerich Exhibition curators (Waste Age exhibition at the Design Museum): Gemma Curtis, Justin McGuirk #Robotic3dPrinting #BiopolymerPrinting #ParametricDesign #BioIntegratedDesign #ArchitecturalDesign

"Computational design and robotic fabrication of dry-stacked non-standard spanning limestone assemblies" published in Construction Robotics Journal - Robotics and Construction Indeterminacy 2026 by Chin-Lun Lu @chin_lun_lu , Zhenghao Zhu, Guillem Perutxet Olesti, Peter Scully & Pradeep Devadass. This research presents a computational and robotic workflow for transforming irregular limestone quarry waste into structurally coherent assemblies through minimal modification of stone. By combining 3D scanning, optimization algorithms, and selective robotic milling, the method identifies optimal stone pairings while reducing machining. A prototype 3-legged arch built from 18 waste stones demonstrates how non-standard fragments can form load-bearing structures, preserving natural material characteristics while enabling precise and low-carbon architectural applications. https://rdcu.be/e5aSx Robotics Support: Jingyuan Meng, Hamish Veitch. #ArchitecturalDesign #ComputationalDesign #RoboticManufacturing #StoneConstruction

"Automated earth-construction: scale up and potential for soil bioremediation" published in Structures and Architecture – REconsidering the Practice of Building 2025 by Guillem Perutxet Olesti @guillemp , Kenneth Neil Wilson Rozas @kewuki , Laetitia Morlie @laetitiamorlie , Anete Krista Salmane @anete.krista , Pradeep Devadass @pradeep.devadass , Marcos Cruz @marcoscruz_bioid & Brenda Parker @algaegrrrl This research presents a methodology for automated construction of engineered earth structures in temporary, or "meanwhile," landscapes. A set of small-scale prototypes were created, along with a full-scale demonstrator installed on a meanwhile site and monitored over 12 months (5mx3.5mx1.5 m). Automated earth construction enables the precise design of a landscape’s composition, layout, and structure, which subsequently influences abiotic factors like soil moisture, temperature, and aeration essential for microbial activity. This workflow establishes the basis for a soil-agnostic robotic manufacturing process, enabling the on-site delivery of beneficial microbial consortia to remediate pollution and improve soil health. Acknowledgements: Fabrication support was provided by Satyam Gyanchandani @satyamgyani , Yifan Shi @yifannnsfilm and supervised by Jingyuan Meng @yao_mjy . The design development was supported by Ayelen Franceschini Couceiro. The compression testing was supervised by Abishera Rajkumar @r.abishera The robotic end-effector was designed and developed by Dianxiong Qu, Chun Liu, and Ella Hetherington @ellahethering This project extends the design development work master's project in Bio-Integrated Design programme, supervised by tutors, Andreas Körner and Kostas Grigoriadis @kostas__gr Partnership with Barking Riverside @barking_riverside Ltd was facilitated by Matthew Sims. Video by Nicholas Bennet @nicholaswb_ Funding: UCL Grand Challenges Research Fund awarded to the Stockpile Garden project in collaboration with Kirsty Badenoch/Periscope Ltd. BP acknowledges additional financial support from the BBSRC Engineering Biology Hub ELEMENTAL BB/Y008456/1. #Architecture #Design #Robotics #Construction #BioIntegrated #Bioremediation

Terra Morphosis creates an on-site robotic fabrication workflow using locally sourced earth, combining vernacular building with digital methods. It integrates additive manufacturing, robotic sculpting, and real-time scanner feedback to adapt toolpaths, manage material variability, and build closed structures with minimal formwork for sustainable construction. Programme: Design for Manufacture Students: Hitakshi (Honey) Gupta; Seyedehrozhin (Rozhin) Hadavi @rozhin_hdv ; Nikhil Raj @nikhilraj0009 ; Dhruv Sunilkumar Thakker @dhruv_thkkr ; Vijayalakshmi Vijayappan @lakshmivijayav . Robotics Support: Yaoyao Meng, Guillem Perutxet Olesti. Tutors: Pradeep Devadass and Nikoletta Karastathi. #architecture #design #construction #robotics #earthbuilding

Robotic construction meets earth-based materials Project 'Cob-automation' explores a low-carbon, earth-based manufacturing method for building with traditional cob using a 6-axis robotic arm and a custom impact-printing tool. By working with soft, variable aggregates and particle tolerances, the research demonstrates how computational design + robotics can scale natural materials into precise, buildable systems. Research assistant: Ella Hetherington @ellahethering Co-investigators: Pradeep Devadass @pradeep.devadass Lead investigators: Guillem Perutxet Olesti @guillemp , Ben Lee #architecture #design #construction #robotics #earthbuilding

Arkhive: Design for Automated Robotic Assembly and Adaptable (Dis)Assembly As disassembly becomes vital in the end-of-life phase of buildings, the assembly process gains new significance. No longer just a construction step, assembly now plays a key role in enabling disassembly, reuse, and recycling. This shift demands an integrated approach to sustainability and functionality throughout design and construction.   Contemporary research explores how assembly and disassembly practices shape future built environments, focusing on robotic automated assembly’s potential to support ecological goals. Despite progress, challenges remain in fully integrating design, production, and disassembly of timber components for practical applications.   To address this, a 1:1 wooden prototype called Arkhive is built. Employing robotic assembly, it embodies design-for-disassembly strategies, prioritizing adaptability and reuse. The manufacturing process, interconnected from design to reuse, ensures continuous feedback for sustainable outcomes. This project highlights the potential of integrated wood construction for real-world applications in the Architecture, Construction, and Engineering (ACE) industry. Students: Victoria Arancibia @vicky.arancibia.r , Hakyeong Jeon @jeonhakyeong , Matias Ramirez @matiasramirezm , Jawad Soueid @jawad.s_ Tutors: Ben Spong @benspong , Pradeep Devadass @pradeep.devadass Technical Support: B-Made UCL @b__made , Yao Yao Meng @yao_mjy , and Guillem Perutxet @guillemp #architecture #design #construction #robotics #timber

Robotic Timber Assembly (RTA) engages with robotics systems in architectural research for integrally-attached timber plate structures (IATPS), a relatively new method of constructing segmented shells. These are now made possible by robotic fabrication and assembly. IATPS are too complex to manufacture without computational design and automated fabrication (milling and assembly in our case). By working towards increased automation in this segment of timber structures we expand on the usefulness of timber plate structures. Our prototypes employ a construction logic that is self-intersecting, contributing to the development of IATPS and its adoption in industry as a viable and robotically deployable timber construction method. The core of the research can be found in the design and optimization of integral joints for use in multi-robotic assembly processes. The process of developing prototypes is treated as an ecological methodology, producing integrally jointed plates for use in wall, roof and shell geometries to be robotically assembled while also speaking to methodologies appropriate for the development of robotic design-to-manufacture systems for construction innovators. Students: Juan Daniel Garcia, Balu Anil Robotics Support: Jingyuan Meng, Guillem Perutxet Olesti Tutor: Pradeep Devadass

Arkhive by Design for Manufacture, Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London students: DfM cohort of 2023-2024 (Matías Ramírez Muñoz, Hakyeong Jeon, Victoria Arancibia Retes, Jawad Soueid), DfM cohort of 2024-2025 (Anuj Bajaj, Chao-lin Cheng, Hongkun Chen, Iqbal Utomo, Jun Myung, Longfei Ma, Nour Beydoun, Petra Li, Pongpreedee Chaveegoolrat, Qiyang Zhu, Shengtong Liu, Sibei Chen, Sihan Liu, Tong Wu, Xujie Shen, Yanzhu Che, Yuan Gao, Yuntian Ma, Yuxuan Zhou, Zining Zhu, Zishan Huang, Ziyue Wu) B-made workshops & labs: Hamish Veitch, Yaoyao Meng, Guillem Perutxet Olesti, Melis Van den Berg, Samuel Turner-Baldwin, Claudia Toma, Adam Meyrick, Costa Harrison, Mark Burrows structural engineers: Bedir Bekar, Tim Lucas, Giulio Gianni, Price & Myers plywood sponsor: Ben Price, Plykea – Here East screw pile foundation contractor: Radix Group, Dundee Scotland project partner: Harry Watkins, St Andrews Botanic Garden design tutors: Ben Spong, Pradeep Devadass program director: Peter Scully #architecture #construction #manufacturing #timber #robotics

Robotically assembled, designed for disassembly. Arkhive is a full-scale timber pavilion developed by Bartlett Design for Manufacture students, exploring circular construction through reversible joinery and robotic fabrication. Now reassembled at St Andrews Botanic Garden. Credits: students: DfM cohort of 2023-2024 (Matías Ramírez Muñoz, Hakyeong Jeon, Victoria Arancibia Retes, Jawad Soueid), DfM cohort of 2024-2025 (Anuj Bajaj, Chao-lin Cheng, Hongkun Chen, Iqbal Utomo, Jun Myung, Longfei Ma, Nour Beydoun, Petra Li, Pongpreedee Chaveegoolrat, Qiyang Zhu, Shengtong Liu, Sibei Chen, Sihan Liu, Tong Wu, Xujie Shen, Yanzhu Che, Yuan Gao, Yuntian Ma, Yuxuan Zhou, Zining Zhu, Zishan Huang, Ziyue Wu) B-made workshops & labs: Hamish Veitch, Yaoyao Meng, Guillem Perutxet Olesti, Melis Van den Berg, Samuel Turner-Baldwin, Claudia Toma, Adam Meyrick, Costa Harrison, Mark Burrows structural engineers: Bedir Bekar, Tim Lucas, Giulio Gianni, Price & Myers plywood sponsor: Ben Price, Plykea – Here East screw pile foundation contractor: Radix Group, Dundee Scotland project partner: Harry Watkins, St Andrews Botanic Garden design tutors: Ben Spong, Pradeep Devadass program director: Peter Scully #architecture #construction #manufacturing #timber #robotics

Excited to share the launch of @ucl new cross-disciplinary robotics lab for Architecture and Construction at Bartlett School of Architecture, supported by over £400K of investment in advanced robotic infrastructure. As the Academic Lead and Principal Investigator of the lab, I’m pleased to see this investment strengthen our capacity for sustainable, automated construction research and support our growing community of researchers, students, and collaborators. The facility brings together colleagues across architecture and engineering, with contributions from our Co-Investigators @marjancolletti_postdigital , @scullypeter10 , @marcoscruz_bioid @algaegrrrl (Biochemical Engineering), Simon Julier (Computer Science), Stuart Robson (Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering) and Colin Rose (Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction). The B-made Robotics lab is developed and supported by a wider technical and academic team including, @yao_mjy @guillemp , Sunny Katyara, Robin Mather, Mark Burrows, @martyncarter53 . Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gHy5Q79w #robotics #LowCarbonBuilding #DigitalFabrication #SustainableConstruction #Architecture #Engineering #Innovation #Bartlett #UCL

Open-Source Robotics in Architecture & Construction - Digital FUTURES 2021 Can affordable open-source robots be used as an alternative to expensive industrial robots for prototyping in creative fields? 2 tutors, 16 participants from 10 countries, one broadcasting kit, 1 open-source robot, exploring remotely. Tutors: Pradeep Devadass | B-made Sushant Verma | rat[LAB] #anninrobotics #rhinoceros3d #grasshopper3d #robot #opensource #computationaldesign #roboticfabrication #Architecture #Construction

Want to design and prototype using #Robots in #Architecture & #Construction?   Participate in a 3-day online workshop at the #digitalfutures2021 The interactive workshop will use an open-source #robot and open-source software plugins in #rhinoceros3d & #grasshopper3d for demonstrating concepts and prototyping design developed by the participants. The participants will be able to control the robot remotely. Robotic prototyping, demos, tutorials & lectures will be broadcasted live on a video conferencing platform. Through this intensive workshop, the participants will be able to learn how to use a robot in design processes and most importantly, how to develop all this at an affordable price!   The workshop is free of cost but is through a competitive application process. Applications Open: 23rd May 2021 Application Closes: 31st May 2021   Tutors: Pradeep Devadass & Sushant Verma   More info and to apply: https://www.digitalfutures.world/workshops/6.html #inclusivefutures #innovation #freelearning #opensource #robotics #anninrobotics #design #computation #workshop #parametric