The RobotSphere study investigates spherical spiral forms created through robotic tube bending. A robot freeform bends tubes in all dimensions with precision necessary for complex geometric alignment. Each spiral transforms from a flat configuration into a double vortex pattern on the sphere's interior. The geometric challenge involves rotational alignment. Spirals rotate around the sphere's axis like a folding lantern, transitioning from a series of equally aligned flat elements into a three-dimensional spherical structure. The research addresses how these spirals align correctly in both states while avoiding intersections. Determining attachment points where spirals connect in the spherical state forms the basis for stable construction. The precision requirements drove the robotic fabrication approach. The spirals must align accurately enough to make the folding transformation technically feasible. The investigation explores how curved elements organize into spherical assemblies through rotational symmetry and controlled geometric transitions.
Photography: Phillip C. Reiner
