Course Reflection

This course covered a lot of different topics, all of which I found to be very informative. The course had many different aspects and was all around a good experience. From the professor to the blog posts everything that happened in this class was useful in one aspect or another. There were a variety of assignments that covered a wide variety of topics all of which made me think about the future of the industry and the future for myself.

I would first like to reflect on my professor. Professor Mitchell is a great teacher and really cares about his students. He includes modern technologies such as blog posts and a variety of computer software. He really gets you involved, and is truly passionate about what he does and I feel like it should be publicly recognized how hard he works at making this class better with every year.  The guest speakers that Mitchell brought in were another privilege about this class that us as students would never have had the chance to experience if not for this class.

The topics in this class were a wide variety that covered BIM, databases, robotics, sensors, networks, and 3D printing. All of those topics were very interesting and really showed the potential of the industry to come. It really made me excited for the future and where my career is going to take me. The most interesting topic we covered, in my opinion, was the 3D printing. To me it is an insane concept that I want to dig my hands into, which is probably why I chose it as my final project. My least favorite topic was probably databases. I did not enjoy the assignment at all and I feel that it should be improved greatly or replaced with a different topic. My favorite assignment was probably the final project. This is probably due to the fact that I really enjoy the subject I did my project on, but it also gave me a deeper understanding on where 3D printing came from and where its most probable to go.

Overall I enjoyed this class. I wish I could have spent more time on some of the topics and less on others, but that is neither here nor there, just mainly my likes and dislikes for the topics. I am glad I took this class and would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to learn about some cool, not so far in the future, futuristic topics.

Comments on other blog posts:

Ryan Donahue:
I definitely agree with what Mitchell said in the beginning of the term "you get out of it what you put into it.” Is there any topic you feel like you didn't put enough in and as a result you didn't get much back, that you wish you had? What was your favorite and least favorite topics? What would you change about the course if you could? Great post!

Week 2 - Robotic Capabilities (Group C)

Week 2 - Robotic Capabilities (Group C)

Robotic development has been continued rapidly. Nowadays, we can find robotic systems pretty much everywhere. Could robotic technology affect the building where humans find the comfort and safe in their lives?

Ever since the computer technology have been developed, they changed the way of life in the offices as well as the job sites. Since the performance of machines getting better and better, people started to adopting the era. Despite people still trying to fight for their rights to keep their jobs and possible computer errors that could cost human lives, researches and studies are coming up with convincing statistics and results to announce that the futuristic world is not too far way from now. One of the best example is Google self-driving car. The research is taken in the state of California to show the world that even computer programming error could bring better results than human errors. Along with Google, Volvo and Auidi's also perform self-driving program on the highway and streets with busy traffics.

Robotic actions does not stop on the road, but they also were taken into factories and commercial buildings. These robots are being more precise, small, durable, and cheaper as the technology advances. ABB's IRB 120 is one of the smallest robot arm that could work in the factory. That small robot arm, as small as 25kg can operate many repetitive works like what the robot arms that people could expect.

What if these technologies could be used for human comfort and safeties in buildings? There are many robots developed, but still in the progress of perfecting it. Quodrotor machines can build any types of figures as long as it could be generated in computer program and materials are light enough. Those machines are very effective since they have no limit of access during the construction and move whole lot faster than human workers. Like Nameita says, Robots also have sensors to operate HVAC construction to figure out the data that are changing throughout the construction. However, they are not precise enough and limits of weight for carrying. Also there is a limit of connection methods which has to require glues and magnetic connections. To be more realistic, they could be used for visual inspection for unreachable space by human.

Serviceability  is another important factor of the building that human expects. With technology nowadays, robot can find its location and remove obstacles to get to assigned locations. WooWee is one of the leading company that designs the machine to located and control robot itself to explore the building. If these machines get be developed further more, these machine can save human lives in the unlivable condition like fire or earth quakes. Like david mentioned, some of the schools are already using machines for human works. Even in a Japanese restaurant, machines are not only making ramen noodle to serve, but also they perform for entertainments.

If the Robot technologies keep developing as it is, one day, robots would become human's best friend. That would bring many advantages and disadvantages. It is good to keep the traditions, but sometimes, accepting new things could help to carry on the tradition in better ways. Future is almost here.


Nameita Toure, future robot capabilities
David Barbalace, future robot capabilities
Wowwee, Home robots
Quodrotor team, Construction footage with quodrotor
NTD TV, Japanese ramen making machine
Singularity HUB, ABB's sallest robot arms and many more
Chris Matzski, Google's self-driving car

Group B Intelligent Building Definition

Intelligent Buildings:

A structure that uses technology to respond to its environment and enhance the performance of a building.

Yoon's initial Blog Post

Background relevant to Intelligent Building

My father owns a business which supplies many products to construction companies. One of the supplies are sensors. As I was growing up, I watch many different types of sensors and what they can do to make life easier.

Expectation for this class

I wish to share and learn knowledge about newest technologies on buildings.

My initial definition of "Intelligent Building"

Intelligent Building I thought of was a kind of building that could communicate with people living in and working on the buildings. Any sort of response that could let people know for any kind of discomfort or danger so that people can avoid any problems for staying in that building.

Michael Kilgallon's Initial Blog Post

Background regarding intelligent buildings:
-Dabbled a bit with Revit, but I am more fluent with AutoCAD
-Never really heard of the term until this class actually

Expectations:
-To learn what Intelligent Buildings are, why they are beneficial, and how to implement them in the design process
-To learn more about BIM and see how useful it is in the construction of new buildings and projects
-Learn how to incorporate robotics and networks into buildings and building design

Initial definition of "Intelligent Buildings":
-A building that has its features recorded fully through design, construction, and completion, so that updates on each step of the process can be seem by all parties involved in its creation.
-It would allow projects to become more streamline to save time and cost in construction.

Matt Morimoto's First Blog Post

Week 1 - Blog about yourself

Background: Im a Junior Engineering student pursuing a BS/MS degree with a concentration in structures.  I have have worked fairly extensively with Revit and Microstation during Coop. I did my first Coop at Ballinger as a Electrical Designer and for my second I worked at EwingCole as a HVAC designer.  I would have to say that if I had a spirit animal it would be a hawk.  Hawks can fly and hunt small animals.  Overall they are just awesome.

Expectations: I think that I will learn more about BIM and how to use it in the real world.  Additionally I hope to learn about the complexities of structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing aspects that have not been previously discussed in AE 390 and AE 391

Definition:  Intelligent Buildings, in my estimation, is a word to describe the integration of all the parts of the building coming together to make a system that is greater than the sum of the parts.  That together this integration causes ease of use and comfort for the client and the user.  An intelligent building is something that all buildings should strive to become.

Adam Brooke Initial Post

Currently my background in Intelligent Buildings is limited to knowledge gained through a few journal and news articles. Overall my knowledge of the subject is narrow. Expectations for this class include gaining a better knowledge in how "intelligent buildings" are run and designed. A greater knowledge in how to use BIM and database programs is also expected. My initial definition for an "Intelligent Building" is a building that incorporates technology to enhance the use, safety, and comfort of the occupants; through the use of various sensors and computers.