A team of UK-based researchers have built a swarm of drones capable of working in tandem to accurately 3D print intricate concrete structures.
Believed to be the first example of a fully-aerial construction 3D printing framework, the team’s workflow sees scanning drones used to guide extruder-mounted drones to the right spot, and ensure any printed layers overlap.
Using this approach, the engineers’ ‘BuilDrones,’ equipped with custom printheads designed to account for aerial drift, have proven capable of autonomously creating robust tower and dome-like prints. With further R&D, it’s thought swarms of these robots could be deployed to build and repair infrastructure in remote climate disaster-hit areas, that traditional construction just can’t reach.
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