ON-GOING RESEARCH

Åthar

Capturing Carbon with Desert Sands

Advanced Manufacturing Material Innovation Robotic Fabrication

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Åthar is an ongoing research project exploring how desert sand can be transformed into a material for 3D printing and construction. Combining robotic fabrication with real-time AI optimization through Tasni.ai, the project develops locally sourced alternatives to imported materials—advancing sustainable manufacturing practices tailored to arid environments and resource-constrained contexts.

WHY?

Desert sand is one of the most abundant yet underutilized materials. Åthar explores its potential to replace resource-intensive, imported resources with local sustainable alternatives for fabrication and construction.

WHAT?

Åthar—derived from the Arabic word for “trace” or “impact”— investigates the use of desert sand as a core material for 3D printing, integrating local waste streams and capturing CO₂ during fabrication.

HOW?

The system combines a custom robotic end-effector setup with Tasni.ai, a software layer that enables AI-powered real-time process optimization, error correction, and material feedback.

WHERE?

The research was presented at Quoz Arts Fest in Alserkal Avenue in January 2025, featuring printed samples, early prototypes, and an animated demo of the robotic fabrication system.

WHEN?

Currently in development, the project is in prototyping and testing phases, with a focus on printability, structural performance, and environmental impact.

WITH?

The work is developed in collaboration with the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI) and the In5 Design Incubator and prototyping lab, using a Kuka Robotic Arm.

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Ibda Athar 3d printing with sand

CREDITS

Concept and Strategy: Joanne Hayek, Dr. Raffi Tchakerian

Robotic Fabrication: Nour AlHammawi, Zoe Concepcion

Material Research: Adithya Suresh, Safa Fathima

Digital Design and Animation: Hana Kabeer, Yashvi Patel

Academic Parnter: Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation, DIDI

Laptop screen displaying 3D printing process with a robotic arm and a circular object being printed.

RELATED PROJECT

Tasni.ai

AI-Powered Manufacturing

Advanced Manufacturing AI Integration Software Solution

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Explore the project