Automated Timber Construction Systems

Role: Architectural Design, Robotics R&D for Ciel Technologies

Equipment: ABB irb6670 x4

Projects: NLT-Concrete Composite Floor Systems, Engineered-Bamboo Panel Wall Systems, Modular Prefabricated Timber Housing

Automated Production of NLT-Composite Floor Systems

Nail-Laminated-Timber (NLT) was selected over DLT or GLT processes due to the ease of adaptation to a robotic process and the ability to create form-form structures. By layering wood elements horizontally and using this timber structure as a formwork; a concrete-timber composite system is produced which is suitable for roof and floor assemblies of prefabricated timber housing modules. The system was developed to be produced with 2x irb6670 industrial robots mounted on a 9m external track using a custom gripper/nailgun end-effector.

Prefabricated Timber Housing Modules

A prefabricated modular housing system was developed which uses a composite structure of timber and reinforced- concrete elements. The roof and floor system is a composite NLT-concrete slab and the walls are assembled from engineered-bamboo panels produced with a CNC router and prefabricated with insulation and MEP systems integrated during offsite production.