Angewandte Kreative Robotik - Teil 1 - Grundlagen

Philipp Frei
Institute of Art and Technology, Angewandte Robotics Lab
2026W, Lecture with Practical Exercises (VU), 2.0 ECTS, 2.0 semester hours, course number S05193

Description

APPLIED CREATIVE ROBOTICS

 

< BASIC-INTRODUCTORY-COURSE>

In times of digital transformation in the artistic and creative domain, there is an increasing desire and need for contemporary approaches to integrate physical, spatial and haptic qualities in one's own artistic work in a playful, low-threshold and creative way.

For this purpose, students will be taught a process- and logic-based way of thinking and working, in which robots can be seen as a neutral interface between a digital world of ideas and physical realization.

The resulting customized and unique processes and the associated artistic, formal possibilities should create added value in the creative industry.

 

Content:

  1. THEORY: introduction into robotics*
  2. THEORY: semi-digital-physical-processes
  3. THEORY/PRAXIS: visual-programming (grasshopper)
  4. THEORY/PRAXIS: handling/safety (KUKA robot)
  5. APPLY/PRAXIS: hands-on (digital-physical-prototyping)

 

Targets:

- Process and logic-based way of thinking and working. (Main focus is on visual Programming via Mc Neel‘s Rhino Grasshopper)

- Insights into robotics.

 

Tools:

Grasshopper as an intuitive, digital working environment.

Visual programming interface for object-oriented programming.

Low-threshold and playful access. Structured and logic-based thinking.

Simple operations combined to complex concepts.

 

Robots as a neutral and/or versatile, physical and digital controlled tool.

Interface between the digital planning world and the physical materialization of creative processes.

Examination Modalities

During weekly face-to-face sessions, students are encouraged to develop and document their ideas and concepts digitally creating a Grasshopper definition.

In addition to the conception and development of an individual, personal, artistic work in the digital space, the focus lies on the implementation of a physical work sample, realized with the help of the lab's internal robot.

The artistic work (Grasshopper definition) is to be presented based on the work sample produced in the seminar (robotically manufactured, physical prototype) and represents the basis for assessment.

In order to ensure the desired progress, a minimum attendance of 80% is required (immanent examination character). Curiosity and interest as well as an independent working method are essential.

In order to make the best possible use of the resources for the ACR course, as well as to give as many students as possible the opportunity to gain an insight into creative robotics, the final decision on active participation for students registered in the BASE will be decided and defined at the beginning of the first unit (0930), based on the ranking in the registration and physical attendance.

Comments

This course is designed to target all creative professionals at Angewandte who have an interest and curiosity in digital-based physical processes.

HOWEVER, a digital way of working in Grasshopper is a prerequisite for participation!

This course is part one of a two part series. It is the BASICS-INTRODUCTORY-COURSE!

Number of participants is limited to a maximum of 12 students.

Individual work is required.

Participation includes bringing your own laptop.

(The basis is a Microsoft Windows with functioning Mc Neels Rhinoceros3D + Grasshopper on a native Windows laptop, or emulated on an Apple laptop. Grasshopper/KUKAprc only works natively to a limited extent on MAC.)

Key Words

Kreative Robotik, Creative Robotics, Digitale Produktion, Digital Production, Art Production, Grasshopper3D, CNC, CAD/CAM, Experimental, Künstlerischer Zugang, Artistic Approach, Angewandte Robotik, Applied Robotics, Kunstproduktion, Fabrication, Fertigung, Prototypenbau, Prototyping, Projektarbeit, Project Work, ARL, Angewandte Robotics Lab, AngewandteRoboticsLab, Robotik, Robotics, AKR, ACR

Dates

Wed, 07 October 2026, 09:00–11:00 Seminar Room 5 , "01 KICK-OFF + THEORY: INTRO INTO ROBOTICS – MANDATORY"
Wed, 14 October 2026, 09:00–11:00 Seminar Room 5 , "02 THEORY: INTRO INTO ROBOTICS"
Wed, 21 October 2026, 09:00–11:00 Seminar Room 5 , "03 THEORY: SEMI-DIGITAL-PHYSICAL-PROCESSES"
Wed, 28 October 2026, 09:00–10:00 Seminar Room 5 , "04.1 THEORY: HANDLING+SAFETY"
Wed, 28 October 2026, 10:00–11:00 @ARL Angewandte Robotics Lab, Oskar-Kokoschka-Platz 2, 1. Basement, Room 858 , "04.2 THEORY: HANDLING+SAFETY"
Wed, 04 November 2026, 09:00–11:00 Seminar Room 5 , "05 THEORY/PRAXIS: INTRO PROGRAMMING-1 /GRASSHOPPER"
Wed, 11 November 2026, 09:00–11:00 Seminar Room 5 , "06 THEORY/PRAXIS: PROGRAMMING-2 /GRASSHOPPER"
Wed, 18 November 2026, 09:00–11:00 Seminar Room 5 , "07 THEORY/PRAXIS:PROGRAMMING-3 /GRASSHOPPER"
Wed, 25 November 2026, 09:00–11:00 Seminar Room 5 , "08 THEORY/PRAXIS:PROGRAMMING-4 /GRASSHOPPER"
Wed, 02 December 2026, 09:00–11:00 Seminar Room 5 , "09.1 THEORY/PRAXIS:PROGRAMMING-5 /GRASSHOPPER"
Wed, 02 December 2026, 12:00–16:00 @ARL Angewandte Robotics Lab, Oskar-Kokoschka-Platz 2, 1. Basement, Room 858 , "09.2 THEORY/PRAXIS:PROGRAMMING-5 /GRASSHOPPER ADDITIONAL DESKCRITS – OPTIONAL"
Wed, 09 December 2026, 09:00–16:00 @ARL Angewandte Robotics Lab, Oskar-Kokoschka-Platz 2, 1. Basement, Room 858 , "10.1 APPLY/PRAXIS: HANDS-ON /FABRICATION-1 - INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENTS" (examination)
Thu, 10 December 2026, 09:00–16:00 @ARL Angewandte Robotics Lab, Oskar-Kokoschka-Platz 2, 1. Basement, Room 858 , "10.2 APPLY/PRAXIS: HANDS-ON /FABRICATION-2 - INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENTS" (examination)
Wed, 16 December 2026, 09:00–12:00 @ARL Angewandte Robotics Lab, Oskar-Kokoschka-Platz 2, 1. Basement, Room 858 , "11 APPLY/PRAXIS: HANDS-ON /FABRICATION BACKUP"
Wed, 13 January 2027, 09:00–11:00 Seminar Room 10 , "12 FINALS /PRESENTATION" (examination)

Course Enrolment

From 31 August 2026, 09:00
Via online registration

Art Education: study subject kkp (Bachelor): Focus: Digital Basic Education (DGB): Practice / Digital Production 034/2026UBA-020.10

Art Education: subject kkp (Bachelor): Schwerpunkt Digitale Grundbildung (DGB): Praxis / digitale Produktion 067/2016UBA-020.10

Art Education: subject dex (Bachelor): Schwerpunkt Digitale Grundbildung (DGB): Praxis / digitale Produktion 074/2017UBA-020.10

Transformation Studies. Art x Science (Bachelor): Focus! Transformation Areas: Digital Transformation 162/2025UBA-040.10

TransArts - Transdisciplinary Arts (Bachelor): Artistic and art technology foundations: Artistic and art technology foundations 180/2025UBA-002.01

Design: Specialisation in Design and Narrative Media (2. Section): Technological Fundamentals: Technology, Coding, and Programming 576/2024U00-204.25

Industrial Design (1. Section): Technology / Natural Science - Basics: Materials Science, Manufacturing Techniques, Production Methods 580/2013U00-103.11

Fine Arts (2. Section): Artistic Practice in Technical Context: Workshops 605/2019U00-203.10

Fine Arts (2. Section): Artistic Practice in Technical Context: Free Electives out of Artistic Practice in Technical Context 605/2019U00-203.80

Design: Specialisation in Applied Photography and Time-based Media (2. Section): Technical Basics: Workshop-based Projects - Knowledge of Materials 626/2021U00-204.20

Co-registration: not possible

Attending individual courses: not possible