This thesis began with the supposition that the world is becoming increasingly automated; drones and robots hold a greater and greater prevalence in everyday life. Yet, architecture is still designed exclusively for human occupants. This thesis posits the theory that architecture should be designed for robotic occupants, and this will potentiate automation, and allow for its increased proliferation. Another global trend is the anthropogenic degradation of our natural environment; this thesis postulates that automated robotics will help mitigate, if not, remediate environmental degradation. Therefore, an architectural infrastructure that is designed to help facilitate robotics, will in turn build a more ecological society.
The hive is an infrastructural center that is
designed to support the operation of agriculture
drones. A swarm of robotic drones could change
the land management paradigm from a damaging
monocrop culture to one of permaculture and
sustainable farming. Further, these farmer
drones could be used to restore polluted or
degraded land.
The primary function of this hive is to facilitate a new farming paradigm of permaculture: land management that mimics natural ecosystems by planting a large variety of flora together. Traditional farming homogeneously plants one crop on a plot of land because current farming machines are designed for the planting and harvesting of one particular crop. This is a damaging practice because the plant will drain the soil of its nutrients. A plant should be combined with reciprocal plants that cycle such that they cycle nutrients between each other. The use of farming drones introduces the new possibility of economically farming a great variety of plants in one plot of land.
The hive is an infrastructural center that is
designed to support the operation of agriculture
drones. A swarm of robotic drones could change
the land management paradigm from a damaging
monocrop culture to one of permaculture and
sustainable farming. Further, these farmer
drones could be used to restore polluted or
degraded land.
The primary function of this hive is to facilitate a new farming paradigm of permaculture: land management that mimics natural ecosystems by planting a large variety of flora together. Traditional farming homogeneously plants one crop on a plot of land because current farming machines are designed for the planting and harvesting of one particular crop. This is a damaging practice because the plant will drain the soil of its nutrients. A plant should be combined with reciprocal plants that cycle such that they cycle nutrients between each other. The use of farming drones introduces the new possibility of economically farming a great variety of plants in one plot of land.
This premanufactured facility is intended for mass production, so different design iterations were focused on improving assembly methods and fabrication efficiency. Rather than architecture, inspiration was drawn from other industries that focus on production of modules such as automative and airplane. The body of the hive is designed most similarly to an airplane hull with a a structural array of steel ribs joining stringers. The modular walls are sheathed with a fiberglass paneling system, and allow for the double curvature of the walls.
The final model is not just a design model, but also a demonstration of the fabrication and assembly technique. The parts are made in a manner that is similar to the real full size components, so the assembly can reflect what the actual would be. The primary structure is 3d printed, the secondary structure is lazer cut acrylic, and the skin is 3d printed.
The primary structure consists of girders with a circular cross section that meet at complex 4 way joints. The secondary structure of lazer cut acrylic forms an array of studs that define the shape of the hull. The skin is 3d printed because it is a doubly curved surface.