ABSTRACT
Aerial Assemblies is part of a series of investigations looking at autonomous assembly in different environments. Aerial Assemblies focuses on large-scale modules that can assemble in the airspace high above land, construction sites or complex environments. In order to activate the self-assembly process, the exterior courtyard was used as a turbulence chamber. A number of fans with a large diameter were used to create upward force and turbulence in the environment. Aerial Assembly was tested over the course of two days from morning until evening, studying the amount of wind, patterns of turbulence and levels of buoyancy. Each 36" diameter module is made from a helium-filled weather balloon and fiberglass frames. After the helium fades and the modules touchdown, the self-assembled lightweight structural lattices will remain. The helium-filled modules were designed based on a truncated octahedron structure. The struts were made from cut fiberglass rods while the nodes were created with custom Velcro patterns.
