Grasshopper (GH) is a visual programming software that runs on the Rhino platform and is one of the mainstream software in data-driven design. In this sharing series, we will continue from the previous issue (Efficient Plugin Organization for Parametric Software Grasshopper – Part 1) to share on 1. Design Generation, 2. Data Processing. Below, I will briefly summarize and provide links to filtered tutorial videos regarding 3. Mechanical Control and 4. Method Expression.
Previous Issue: Tool Sharing | Efficient Plugin Organization for Parametric Software Grasshopper (Part 1)
1.Design Generation
2.Data Processing
3.Mechanical Control
4.Method Expression
5.Program Writing
6.Artificial Intelligence
The article is 4100 words long, reading time is 7 minutes.
1. KUKA | prc
Simulation of robotic arm movement
Plug-in Brief | Plugin Description:
KUKA | prc is familiar to those interested in digital construction. It provides robot building blocks that integrate KUKA robots directly into a parametric environment. Unlike coding, simple battery groups in Grasshopper connect with immediate feedback and visualizes a dynamic simulation process that quickly links programming environments with robots, as well as design and construction. The generated files can be executed in KUKA robotic arms without any additional software. The free trial version can meet the basic simulation methods and code generation for robotic arm paths. Other features, such as support for SunriseOS, external axes, GCode import, etc., are only available for paid members.
Function introduction on the official KUKA | prc website
Download of official free tutorial materials for KUKA | prc
Intermediate Tutorial:
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Cp411d76V?from=search&seid=14519517800737316757
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Cp411d76V?p=4
Related Self-Learning Tutorials:
(3 common functions of robotic arms: 3D printing, cutting, and handling)
Case 1: Cutting and engraving paths:
https://www.robotsinarchitecture.org/913/kukaprc-tutorial-and-update(Files in the tutorial can be downloaded)
Official tutorial for KUKA | prc, along with accompanying gh files
Case 2: KUKA’s 3D space printing application:
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1hE411g7AU?from=search&seid=12740608992848097517
3D printing tutorial
Case 3: KUKA’s handling function:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cC3WjUK8r1Y
Tutorial for stacking objects
Plug-in Brief | Plugin Description:
HAL is a commonly used robot library that allows designers to simulate and program simple or multiple robot units. Through its special programming package, it covers a large number of native robot commands. HAL helps create advanced application structures, including I/O management, error handling, and multitasking. HAL also supports other specific processes for hot wire cutting, milling, picking, and placing. Its main compatibility is with the ABB IRC5 controller, enabling real-time control and monitoring of robotic arms.
Simulation of robotic arm movement
Basic Introductory Tutorial:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCryNxUmhvvyUFh1FdLUlm1Q
There are few tutorials about HAL, and if your network conditions allow, you can watch related project videos and detailed 15-step tutorials on the official HAL Robotics YouTube site.
HAL Robotics’ official YouTube site (related projects and tutorials)
15 basic operation tutorials from HAL’s official site
Plug-in Brief | Plugin Description
FUROBOT is an integrated control plugin developed by FabUnion that allows simultaneous simulation of robotic arm movement and paths in Rhino during visual programming, solving the technical challenges of directly controlling construction robots. KUKA | prc only supports KUKA robots and does not allow customization of multi-axis external axes; while HAL supports KUKA, ABB, and UR robots, it cannot customize hardware and is more complex, which poses certain limitations for beginners and intermediate users of robotic arms. FUROBOT addresses these issues by supporting different manufacturers and models of robots, allowing customization of external axes and tool head libraries, and sharing with other users. This greatly helps users achieve rapid experimental simulation and deployment in digital construction. (For more information about FUROBOT, you can check FabUnion’s related tweets)
(Left) Simulation of the printing process of FUROBOT in Rhino, (Right) Specific numerical deployment of the robot’s 6 axes
Basic Introductory Tutorial:
https://fabunion.github.io/index.html
There is a detailed explanation of the battery operations regarding FUROBOT on the official website, including adding custom external axes and tool heads, which everyone can check out if interested.
Detailed battery introduction on the official site
Setting and operation of tool heads
Regarding tutorials for FUROBOT, official tutorials from FAB-UNION will be published gradually, so stay tuned. FAB-UNION’s related webpage on FUROBOT:http://www.fab-union.com/en/col.jsp?id=103
FAB-UNION will continue to update tutorials (not officially released yet)
Plug-in Brief | Plugin Description
Firefly is the key plugin that connects Arduino and Grasshopper, linking physical operations with virtual data. In addition to being able to import Arduino data into Grasshopper for reprocessing and visual expression in real time, the battery groups of Firefly in Grasshopper can also control Arduino circuits and specify electric shocks for the operation of switches. Its commonly used functions also include connecting network cameras and mobile devices (collecting camera and sound data), and linking the generated code back to the Arduino circuit board.
Basic Introductory Tutorial:
Firefly’s official website: http://fireflyexperiments.com/ (The Gallery section also has many related cases to view)
Official operation guide for firefly on the official site
Related Self-Learning Tutorials:
Case 1: Introductions
1）https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIwpafbzmeI
2）https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1fwyfkEHAg&list=PL7rDCaXfwZV8ZVc0_-8078Gj5vSBSXqXH (Includes 9 basic operation explanations)
Left: First link, Right: Collection of 8 basic tutorials
Case 2: Real-time video data visualization
https://www.grasshopper3d.com/photo/firefly-webcam-video-stream
Real-time visualization of video data
Case 3: Visualization of sound data
1) https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1tA411b7yy?from=search&seid=14889804338409723138
2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prUeQuvMvIU
Real-time visualization of sound data
Plug-in Brief | Plugin Description
Silkworm can convert geometric shapes from Grasshopper and Rhino into Gcode for 3D printers. Silkworm allows for fully intuitive manipulation of printer GCode, such as extrusion amounts, extrusion settings between layers, textures on planes, and printing paths, thereby specifying novel printing material properties through non-solid geometric shapes and digital craft technologies. Official website:https://projectsilkworm.com/ which also includes many cases and links for downloading all basic to advanced cases (marked in red box).
Basic & advance examples on the official website, as well as tutorial download links
Basic Introductory Tutorial:
http://faculty.washington.edu/brj/Arch486x/5.Plugins/Silkworm(Moench,2017).pdf
Related Self-Learning Tutorials:
Case: 3D Rotating Curve Printing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S07MlrOr7iM
Droid,Xylinus (similar to Silkworm)
Plug-in Brief | Plugin Description
Droid and Xylinus are plugins related to 3D printing that control model slicing, customize printing curve paths, and Gcode generation. Compared to Droid, Xylinus offers more control over the printing nozzle. Its application range is broad, from small desktop 3D printers to large robot manufacturers using FFF technology. During use, custom input printing paths can also be provided to better control and experiment with print results.
Brief tutorial on Xylinus
http://www.ryanhoover.org/rd/xylinus.php
Personal website introducing the Xylinus battery group
1. gHowl
Plug-in Brief | Plugin Description
gHowl is the key plugin that connects Grasshopper with Processing. Designers can import code from Processing into Grasshopper, generating corresponding models based on the code written. The plugin can connect with many types of grid data, such as XML files (Google map data), and can connect with physical devices, like mobile interactive components. At the same time, gHowl can achieve real-time interaction with Processing, allowing data analyzed in Grasshopper to be fed back to Processing for timely adjustments.
Related open-source platform — Open Processing
https://www.openprocessing.org/
(Open Processing is a learning and sharing community for Processing, where you can enter the desired effect example to get the corresponding code. You can also quickly obtain real-time simulation results after changing the code online)
Basic Introductory Tutorial:
https://www.xuexiniu.com/thread-95815-1-1.html
Effects that can be achieved in the tutorial
The information I found about gHowl is limited, the above is a relatively detailed Chinese tutorial, which also includes cases for everyone to learn, such as importing and exporting spreadsheets, Geo & KML geographic information, and Google Earth interactive components.
Related self-learning tutorials:
Case: Google Earth Data Visualization Tutorial
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV18A411h7EUfrom=search&seid=9708522956711856055
Some tutorial screenshots
2. Bison
Plug-in Brief | Plugin Description
For students in architecture, urban, and landscape studies, data analysis of the site is an essential part of design and related research, whether it is terrain slope analysis, earthwork estimation, or surface runoff simulation, all of which can provide important guidance for our preliminary analysis and design. In addition to the Elk mentioned in the previous issue (commonly used for urban visualization and road visualization), Bison also greatly lowers the barrier for data analysis, allowing Grasshopper beginners to quickly complete a series of data visualization operations for the site in Rhino.
Site slope and flow analysis diagrams
Basic Introductory Tutorial:
(Official detailed tutorial of the battery)https://www.bison.la/
https://www.bison.la/releases/Bisonv09Reference.pdf
Some tutorial screenshots
Case: Architectural Landscape Terrain Analysis
https://www.bilibili.com/video/av46064746/
Effects that can be achieved in the tutorial
3. Human
Plug-in Brief | Plugin Description
Human is the most commonly used file and graphic attribute editor that helps visualize proposals. It extends Grasshopper’s ability to create and reference geometries including lights, blocks, and text objects. It can specify graphic properties in Grasshopper, such as line width, color, material, light, etc. It can also access information from the Rhino document, reading properties of Rhino graphics in Grasshopper, such as grouping, layering, etc.
Basic Introductory Tutorial:
https://www.grasshopper3d.com/group/human
The official “Reference Guide” has detailed introductions to the usage of battery combinations in Human:
Detailed explanations of battery groups in Grasshopper3D
Related self-learning tutorials:
Case: Visualizing Data from Excel Files
https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/28335688?from_voters_page=true
In the tutorial, the author uses Excel + Rhino + Grasshopper + AI software to analyze how to visualize the urbanization rates of different countries. Everyone can draw parallels to other data visualizations.
Effects that can be achieved in the tutorial
(Similar case video tutorial)https://www.bilibili.com/video/av26528199/
Effects that can be achieved in the tutorial
4. Mandrill
Plug-in Brief | Plugin Description
Mandrill is also a visualization plugin in Grasshopper, mainly used to create bar charts, pie charts, and scatter plots. Due to its easy color adjustment and simple operation, it has no learning barrier.
Visual effects that can be achieved by Mandrill
Related open-source platform — Observable:
https://observablehq.com/collection/@observablehq/visualization
(There are many visual effects achievable with Mandrill)
Related self-learning tutorials:
Case: Basic operations of Mandrill
https://www.bilibili.com/video/av882822259/
Effects that can be achieved in the tutorial
5. Conduit
Plug-in Brief | Plugin Description
Conduit is an open-source plugin created by Proving Ground, similar in function to Mandrill. Conduit enables designers to customize data visualization effects, such as pie charts and bar charts that change with real-time parameters. The generated analysis images are diverse in style and highly interactive and operable.
Related Effects:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=29&v=rWDqYSA-qJ0&feature=emb_logo
Effects that can be achieved in the tutorial
Related self-learning tutorials:
Case: 4 basic tutorials for Conduit operations
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1fx411Z7ur?from=search&seid=17775833170523433279
Effects that can be achieved in the tutorial
6. Horster Camera Control
Plug-in Brief | Plugin Description
Horster Camera Control tool allows easy control of the camera in the Rhino view through Grasshopper. It consists of three parts: getCamera to obtain the current view camera’s position, target, and lens length; setCamera to control the current view camera using the position and target point as inputs; animateCamera allows users to save camera properties directly from the Rhino view and animate smooth transitions between them. This plugin is easy to operate and user-friendly.
Setting of main parameters for the battery
Effects that can be achieved:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZOxsV3meHE
(IAAC-MAA project course project)
Related self-learning tutorials:
Case 1: Horster basic operations
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbU0PSPhiHo
Effects that can be achieved in the tutorial
Case 2: Video presentation of terrain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW-j4EZJOXI
Effects that can be achieved in the tutorial
Disclaimer: The images used in this article are sourced from the internet
All related copyrights belong to the original authors
For more content on Grasshopper plugins, feel free to contact TechArt academic consultants at the end of the article for discussions.
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