Instructive Assembly
Session 5 | August 10–22
LuxTorr by Jiyoo Jye and Nathan Melenbrink, 2015. Upward view from the interior of an observation tower, showing the structural framework and staircases spiraling toward an open sky at the top.
VaultBot by Jiyoo Jye and Nathan Melenbrink, 2020. A robot assembling an arched structure using modular blocks, with its mechanical arm carefully positioning each block to create a stable arch.
Throughout the residency, Jye and Melenbrink will focus on design research, exploring a modular assembly system enhanced with embedded electronics to create an intuitive construction experience. The system integrates color-coded LEDs that light up sequentially, guiding users through the next assembly steps. By embedding instructive visual cues directly into each module, the assembly process becomes more accessible, reducing reliance on traditional, text-heavy instructions. Through this work, they aim to streamline the learning curve and enable efficient, user-friendly assembly across various applications.
Jiyoo Jye (she/her) is the Research Engagement Manager at Autodesk Research where she oversees the Residency Program based at the Boston Technology Center. She supports a group of industry professionals, academic researchers, and entrepreneurial teams who are pioneering advancements to shape the future of their respective fields. Before joining Autodesk, Jye has partnered with physicians, engineers, scientists, and students to create award-winning products for a range of institutions and organizations such as the New England Journal of Medicine, MIT School of Engineering, and NuVu Innovation School.
Nathan Melenbrink (he/him) specializes in digital fabrication, construction robotics, and sustainable design, and teaches courses on those subjects at Harvard and MIT. His prior research includes developing space habitat concepts for NASA, designing robotic systems for environmental restoration, and developing sustainable construction materials. Melenbrink has extensive experience designing and building research pavilions that push the boundaries of computer-aided design and manufacturing.
Fab Lab Residents do not teach workshops. These individuals are in residence throughout the session and augment the creative practices on campus through their own research, informal activities, and integration into the session community.