Interactive Machines Lab (IML)

Florida Atlantic University
Director: Luis Arturo Pacheco

About

The Interactive Machines Lab (IML) researches new relationships between humans and machines in the act of making. We develop intelligent fabrication systems that connect design, AI, and robotics to create machines that understand material, space, and intent. Our work integrates computational design, physical AI, and interactive fabrication to transform fabrication into an adaptive, creative, and responsive process—advancing how we design and build in the age of intelligent tools.

Research Areas

Interactive Fabrication

We develop real-time, design-to-fabrication workflows that merge creative exploration with robotic precision. Our goal is to build procedural systems that link digital models directly to machines, allowing form, material, and motion to evolve together in one continuous process.

Focus Topics

Procedural design workflows for robotic 3D printing, CNC, and hybrid fabrication
Real-time toolpath generation and adaptive material control
Parametric fabrication systems for architectural and product-scale applications
Integration of sensors for live feedback and performance tuning

Physical AI

We study how machines can learn from data, sensing, and human input to adapt intelligently to new environments and materials. The aim is to create fabrication systems that respond to uncertainty, adjust in real time, and improve through experience.

Focus Topics

Simulation-to-reality learning for robotic fabrication
Computer vision and machine learning for adaptive control
Self-calibrating systems for variable-scale fabrication
Sensor networks and data-driven material intelligence

Spatial Interfaces

We design new ways for humans to interact with machines in space—extending design thinking into immersive, real-time environments. Interfaces are treated not as screens, but as spatial systems where design, data, and motion converge.

Focus Topics

XR and mixed reality for interactive robot programming
Multi-sensory feedback through gesture, light, and sound
Real-time visualization of fabrication processes
Interactive systems for education, performance, and creative production