Call for Workshops
Submission Deadline: September 15th, 2019
Submission eMail: workshops@robarch2020.org
Selected workshops from 2014 to 2018
Since the first Rob|Arch conference in 2012, the 3-day Rob|Arch conference workshops have been the centerpiece of the conference, allowing professionals, academics, and students to experience robotic fabrication at first-hand, with all the technological challenges and creative opportunities that come along with it.
For Rob|Arch 2020, co-hosted by Tsinghua University in Beijing in cooperation with Bejing Design Week 2020, China, we are again looking for high-end, hands-on workshops that appeal to both experienced robot users as well as interested beginners from a variety of backgrounds.
There are two types of workshops:
- One-day pre-workshops are meant to prepare participants for the upcoming workshops, by e.g. introducing the basic programming framework to new users. They can also allow companies to showcase products that are interesting to the community. These workshops are usually invited by the conference organizers, though you are welcome to approach us via email with suggestions.
- Three-days workshops are selected by a committee consisting of the local hosts and the Association for Robots in Architecture and should lead participants along the entire fabrication workflow, from design to production.
In addition to a sound, pedagogical concept for the three workshop days, workshop leaders need to provide us with a detailed description of the required hardware and software, as to assure that the workshops can be realized within the conference space. Workshops can be proposed by anyone, from universities and companies to FabLabs, startups and highly engaged individuals.
We specifically encourage collaborations between Chinese and international partners, as this allows the workshop team to more efficiently prepare for the workshop, while also avoiding the complex import of materials and machines on a tight deadline. The top 5 Chinese Universities have agreed to co-host partnered workshops.
Workshops can involve any kind of robots, from robotic arms to drones, autonomous vehicles and completely new machines.
As a reference for your workshop proposal, please refer to the 2018 conference’s workshop page at http://www.robarch2018.org/workshops/ and view the video documentation of the past conference:
2018: https://vimeo.com/293959879
2016: https://vimeo.com/172435465
2014: https://vimeo.com/98288079
The Association for Robots in Architecture supports each workshop with a total of 2500EUR. Depending on the size of the project team, choice of materials etc., additional funding through the workshop leader may be required to cover travel and material costs. Companies that support individual workshops with material or direct funding can be listed as workshop sponsors on the conference marketing material.
Please provide the following data as a Word file that includes a link to an uploaded ZIP archive containing the supporting material such as logos and images. Kindly do not use a free service where links expire within a few days. All submitted data, with the exception of points marked as private, may be posted online. By submitting the proposal, you agree that in case your proposal is chosen, the data will be posted online and used for the promotion of the conference and workshops. You also confirm that you are allowed to grant such usage of your images.
Workshop Title
Title and Subtitle of the workshop
Workshop Team
Names and institutions
Attachment: Logos of Institutions
Contact Data
Private contact (name, email, telephone number)
Public contact (name, email) that may be posted publicly online
Workshop Description
A short (ca. 300 words) and well-written, non-scientific description of the workshop that clearly describes the topic and output of the workshop.
Workshop Schedule
Sketch the schedule and structure for each day of the three-day workshop.
Workshop Participants
State any special requirements for the workshop participants, such as bringing their own laptop or special software. Be specific, e.g. requiring a Windows laptop running Rhino 6 for all participants. Ideally the workshop should be accessible to participants of all levels. Workshops usually sell out with at least 15 participants per workshop.
Provided Equipment
List the equipment that you are planning to bring on-site. If you are outside China, please consider how you will fund the transport and what kind of documentation (e.g. Carnet ATA) you will require.
Required Equipment
List ALL the equipment that needs to be provided by your host. Be specific where necessary (e.g. pressured air with at least 6 bar) and generic where possible (e.g. KUKA robot with at least 20kg payload).
Required Materials
List the type and amount of materials that you will require. Ideally state where the materials can be acquired in China and the approximate costs.
Supporting Data
Attach figures that are relevant to the workshop topic, e.g. showing experiments at your local lab. If available, provide links to previous workshops that you have done.