Top five: Construction robots

The previous article in this top series was entirely devoted to 3D printing, as it is such a disruptive technology in the construction industry. But there are other very interesting companies, which are working on other ways to automate construction. They are developing bricklaying robots, smart scaffolds, or ingenious wooden panels. Some of them focus on on-site, other on off-site assembly.

1. Komatsu (link)

Japanese construction machinery giant Komatsu is heavily investing in robotics. They are developing automated heavy duty vehicles and - drones. The Skycatch drones will provide the eyes to automated bulldozers. The drones can much more precisely observe the building site and can coordinate the data center with with the machines.

2. Fastbrick Robotics (link)

What if we actually need to develop new construction strategies after robots start to do the heavy work? This Australian company thinks so. At first they developed a bricklaying robot, but during the 2017 they revamped their strategy and are offering three big innovations: oversized bricks (15 times the size of usual bricks), glued together with an adhesive, mounted together by a robot. Building tolerance is only 1 mm! Their flagship product is the Hadrian X, a simply beautiful machine to look at. More in the video.

3. Construction robotics (link)

This company from New York states that its mission is to completely automatize the construction business. So far they are focusing on bricklaying and their first robot is SAM 100, a red-coloured machine, which lays bricks six times faster as humans do. Their concept is very similar to the Fastbrick Robotics, just they are focusing on the traditional brick formats, which is not a bad thing per se. They can develop more projects and in fact they are working on projects in 10 US States. Hopefully they will step up and produce even more robots in the near future.

3. Blueprint Robotics (link)

If the Construction Robotics is building with with bricks, then Blueprint robotics are building with wood. They are building wooden panel frames for the modular construction (included integrated wiring/plumbing, which are later assembled at the construction site). It may not sound impressive, but it is. Modular panels demand a high level of precision and sometimes they have to produce very complex shapes. Robots can limit the human error in these tasks, as they can give an another level of precision, especially in laying out wires and plumbing.

4. Odico Formworks (link)

This danish company is developing a family of robot cutters. Modern architectural designs involve ever more complex forms, and usual scaffolding techniques cannot always follow their demands. Odico robots can simply cut and carve various forms out of very simple concrete or stone blocks. The results are remarkable.

5. Kewazo (link)

This German startup is looking at scaffolding, an essential, but often overlooked part of every construction site. Scaffolding assembly is a very dangerous job and often is not properly planned. Accidents happen way too often, much more than necessary. Kewazo are developing automated systems for scaffolding self-assembly. They are developing robots who will lift the construction upwards instead of humans. This way they will be reducing the time frame, improving the planning, and lowering the overall costs. I am hardly awaiting for results.