SteamBot

SteamBot investigates how computational design and industrial robotics can extend steam bending while preserving wood grain, flexibility, springback, and material behavior.

The project develops a jigless robotic steam-bending workflow for producing modular timber members from linear wood strips. It replaces fixed formwork with a programmable forming process that can generate controlled families of related but non-identical components.

Research combines material characterization, computational modeling, toolpath development, robotic bending, curing, and assembly studies. The resulting members can be configured as columns, linear walls, and larger pavilion-scale structures.