UK, Switzerland Jointly Developing Flying Robots to Build or Repair Skyscrapers

• 27 September 2022
• Construction Focus
• 1014 Views

Researchers in Switzerland and the UK have developed flying 3D printing robots that can build and repair structures in difficult spots on skyscrapers or other danger zones.

The drones are fully autonomous while flying but are monitored by a human controller, reports GCR.

The fleet consists of “BuilDrones”, which deposit materials during flight, and quality-controlling “ScanDrones” that measure their output and help control them.

Throughout the build, the drones assess the printed geometry and adapt their behavior to meet the specifications within 5mm.

The research team inventing this drone is from Imperial College London and Swiss Federal Laboratories of Materials Science and Technology—EMPA.

Research Leader Professor Mirko Kovac said the drone has been tested in the lab and is scalable for the real construction sector in the future.

• Technology and Engineering