Thanks to your participation I believe that — and I hope you agree — this is becoming a real discussion. Excellent.
It’s a huge subject — the complete re-invention of the way things are made — and wherever you look the consequences are considerable. These are some of the broad topics I plan to cover in the coming weeks (in no special order):
> resolution and accuracy
> fabrication strategies
> the influence of biology
> materials — learning from biology, metamaterials, challenges
> geometry constraint, frame of reference
> the build unit: whole assemblies, sub-assemblies, parts?
> product system integration
> product end-of-life
> product upgrade and repair
> product variation, customisation, design-by-consumer
> automated design, evolutionary algorithms
> mechanisms, electronics, sensors, actuation, motive power
> structure
> locomotion strategies
> production real-estate
> localised manufacturing and re-industrialisation
> energy and CO2
> safety and compliance
But the central theme will always be design.