Origin

The new English-language CR Master’s programme is part of the teaching agenda at the Architecture Faculty of RWTH Aachen University and is coordinated by the Chair for Individualized Production under the direction of Prof. Dr.-techn. Brell-Cokcan. Since 2015, Prof. Brell-Cokcan, her interdisciplinary team, and a network of industry and scientific partners have been researching into the digitalization and automation in construction with a focus on pre-fabrication and the construction site of the future. Furthermore, the Individualized Production team explores new technologies and working methods in interdisciplinary environments in daily business. Now, we want to share our scientific and professional skills with new students from all around the world in the context of construction and robotics!

Initiators

The CR programme guarantees an interdisciplinary setup due to the diverse backgrounds of its initiators. Although the programme is hosted at the Faculty of Architecture, the initiating professors represent various faculties of RWTH Aachen University and address all academic fields of CR’s targeted student audience. - Prof. Schmitt (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering) - Prof. Kuhlen (Faculty of Computer Science) - Prof. Kuhnhenne (Faculty of Civil Engineering) - Prof. Brell-Cokcan (Faculty of Architecture)

The above listed faculty members have developed CR together and will further shape the structure of CR due to their strong commitment on the topic of digitalization and automation in the construction industry. These professors and more to come will enrich CR with their great scientific knowledge as well as their active support of students through supervision during lectures, seminars and projects.

Prof. Dr.-techn. Sigrid Brell-Cokcan

Chair for Individualized Production (Architecture)
The Chair for Individualized Production in Architecture researches intuitive systems for the use of construction robots; from the design and planning stages, through prefabrication and assembly to deconstruction. Furthermore, the Chair is also active in the fields of automation and technical consulting for construction processes.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Robert Schmitt

Chair of Production Metrology and Quality Management at the Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering - WZL (Mechanical Engineering)
One focus for Production Metrology and Quality Management lies in production integrated metrology and flexible automation of large scale assembly processes. Technical competence in the fields of positional measurements over large workspaces, computer vision, and sensor technologies is complemented with expertise regarding quality and innovation management systems.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Markus Kuhnhenne

Institute for Steel Construction (Civil Engineering)
The Institute of Steel Construction researches both steel construction as well as composite construction methods in interdisciplinary topics such as wind power, timber, and glass construction, as well as lightweight structures. The Institute’s emphasis lies on the development of innovative and multifunctional facade systems.

Prof. Dr. Torsten Wolfgang Kuhlen

Virtual Reality & Immersive Visualization Group (Computer Science)
The Virtual Reality & Immersive Visualization Group is a member of the Visual Computing Institute as well as an integral part of the IT Center of RWTH. The group performs research in multimodal 3D interaction technology, immersive 3D visualization of complex simulation data, parallel visualization algorithms, and virtual product development. It is able to inject VR technology and methodology as a powerful tool into scientific and industrial workflows.

Infrastructure

The CR Master’s programme benefits from both the scientific infrastructure of RWTH University´s powerhouse in general. To allow for physical prototyping, testing and evaluation, classes of the CR programme will take place in realistic lab environments such as the following:

  • Small scale robotic lab with several low payload industrial robots and mobile platforms (Chair for Individualized Production, Faculty 2)
  • Large scale robotic lab with high payload industrial robots and overhead crane (Chair for Individualized Production, Faculty 2)
  • CIP-Pools with CAD/CAM/BIM Software (Faculty 2)
  • Wood-, Metal-, Plastics- and Photography Lab (Faculty 2)
  • Steel Manufacturing Lab (Institute of Steel Construction, Faculty 3)
  • GIS Software, Indoor positioning, incl. photogrammetry and laser scanning (Geodetic Institute, Faculty 3)
  • Centre for Metallic Design Lab (Faculty 3 and 4)
  • Robotic and Kinematics Lab (Institute of Mechanism Theory, Machine Dynamics and Robotics, Faculty 4)
  • Large Assembly and Production Metrology Lab (WZL, Research Area Production Metrology and Quality Management, Faculty 4)

Furthermore, a reference construction site at the RWTH Aachen Campus West for teaching and research purposes was opened in 2020. Here, contact to realistic construction processes and actual heavy construction machinery in a dynamic development environment will be guaranteed.

Industry Board

We are happy to announce, that CR is supported by partnerships with construction industry leaders through an active collaboration with the Center Construction Robotics (CCR) in Aachen. The industry partners of the CCR draw upon their practical experience in business, in industry, and on the construction site to give input to ongoing projects. Furthermore, they contribute up to date research questions for seminars & projects, and share both profound insights and useful knowledge through the Construction Robotics lecture series.

Center Construction Robotics (CCR)

Digital Automated Systems - Breaking digital boundaries together: The Center Construction Robotics (CCR) is closing digital gaps in the construction industry from planning through production to implementation. An interdisciplinary, international consortium of companies and faculty spanning many institutes of RWTH Aachen University are developing and designing intelligent processes, machines and business models along the entire construction value chain. The CCR jointly researches and develops key technologies in hardware, software and process design. Beyond indirect planning processes it aims to address, rethink, and redesign the entire construction site.