Presented at the DESIGN 2018 15th International Design Conference in Croatia, the latest paper from the Model-Based Information Navigation project described the design of a number of Visual Information Objects – markers that identify the presence of information within the three-dimensional virtual environment. Below are a number of animated gifs showing the designed markers. Users […]
This project tests the hypothesis that Cyber-physical production systems can be developed much faster using “non-identical digital twins”. This is achieved by creating a lightweight, low fidelity, digital twin to a physical system and co-evolving this twin, together with adjusting, the parameters in the real system. The co-evolution is enabled by learning from both the […]
Brixelate and Kitify are two Blender addons written in Python that help designers create physical, editable versions of their designs. Check out the video below to see them in action. Brixelate Brixelate takes an 3D object and packs it full of LEGO bricks. The type of LEGO bricks used can be changed, as well as […]
Are traditional centralised and hierarchical structures too cumbersome for the digital age? Would a radical (and controversial) view to solving the shop-floor scheduling and control problem be better? With the rise of digital manufacturing technologies and Industry 4.0, many are considering whether current methods for scheduling and controlling (and ultimately decision making) will be able […]
The DMF lab has just secured an EPSRC grant for funding! Led by Prof. Hicks, Chris Snider, and Aydin Nassehi, we’ve secured £1.6 million to study the creation of seamless digital / physical prototypes over the next four years starting August this year. There will be lots of new information, research, technology, and hardware coming […]
Using physical objects when prototyping has enormous benefits and affords tangibility and presence that are lacking from digital files. However creating prototypes takes time and money, this project is investigating how construction kits and additive manufacture can be combined to add flexibility and reconfigurability into this process. Project Lead: David Mathias
3D printing has the potential to revolutionise the way we consume goods. The technology should be able to facilitate low-cost, personal manufacture but complex design software and a lack technical knowledge prevent this from happening. Without the ability to generate or amend digital models it is impossible to reap the benefits offered by 3D printing. […]
Welcome to the new Design and Manufacturing Futures Lab website.