Carnivorous Domestic Entertainment Robots

Lampshade Robot

Lampshade Robot

“Utilising the microbial fuel cell as an energy source the robots reference strategies of predatorial insects, reptiles and plants such as the wolf spider, the chameleon and the Venus flytrap and apply these harvesting techniques to the acquisition of food.”
Auger-Loizeau on Material Beliefs

The lampshade robot attracts insects with light to capture them and fuel itself with the insects' carcasses digested through a microbial fuel cell. Auger-Loizeau approached me to help them with building the lampshade out of polymer resin on an Objet printer; we needed to explore our options for the exact final shape and to find the best way to fit the model parts in the limited build space offered by the printer.

The external geometry was developed with subdividion-surface modeling, starting from one icosahedral grid. Choosing a spatial grid in advance allowed us to later work with high-precision technical detailing for each portion of the final model. Subsequent low-tolerance NURBS modeling of each part (20 in total) was key to correctly assemble the final model.

NURBS model with zebra highlighting

NURBS model data wireframe and surface analysis.

model assembly interior

Model assembly interior.

Lampshade robot during the day.

Lampshade robot during the day.


Everything Is Under Control

Everything Is Under Control

Phytolitography device.

  • LABoral,
  • 2010.
Toys

Toys

Highlights from the 2005 bankruptcy auction of ENT International. A photographic essay.

  • Royal College of Art,
  • 2009.
playgrounds

Playgrounds

An alternative unsettling view of the modern productivity sanctuaries.

  • Royal College of Art,
  • 2009.
The City

The City

Amidst the constant rumbling noise of the HVAC systems, the other nature of corporate spaces is revealed.

  • Royal College of Art,
  • 2008.
playgrounds

Industrial Fragility

Mundane and obsolete household objects are given new importance by slight modifications of their established nature, creating a new loving tension between us and them.

  • Royal College of Art,
  • 2007.
radio

Corley's Radio

Mike Corley is a UK citizen and the author of the website five.org.uk where he keeps detailed stories on what he suspects being a campaign of harassment against him waged by the MI5, the British security service.

  • Royal College of Art,
  • 2007.
nanoPaper

nanoPaper

A paper-like bioengineered scaffold supporting the growth and preservation of skin cells.

  • Royal College of Art,
  • 2008.

Other projects I have worked on.

World Expo Shanghai Pavillion Walkways by Troika

Shanghai Expo - UK Pavillion

UK Pavillion walkways visualisation for Troika

  • Troika,
  • 2010.
Lampshade Robot

Carnivorous Domestic Entertainment Robots

Collaboration with James Auger and Jimmy Loizeau for Material Beliefs

  • Material Beliefs, Auger-Loizeau,
  • 2008.
The Shirt

The MacGuffin Library

3D model for Noam Toran and Onkar Kular's MacGuffin Library.

  • Noam Toran and Onkar Kular,
  • 2009.
Show Artwork

Disruptive Thinking

Award-winning show created for 100% Design 2009, featuring projects from recent graduates of the Royal College of Art

  • 100% Design,
  • 2009.
nok8600

Nokia 8600 "Luna"

  • Nokia Design UK,
  • 2007.
Riquadro

Riquadro

My final BA project, designed and presented in 2004. Shortlisted and exhibited for the INDEX Award in 2005

  • ISIA Roma,
  • 2004.