The construction industry is on the cusp of a revolution with the advent of aerial robots that can be used as autonomous construction platforms. These robots can reach places that are inaccessible to conventional machines, be it in the mountains, on rooftops, in disaster areas or even on distant planets. They also do not require a fixed construction site, can be deployed in swarms, and therefore offer a high degree of flexibility and ease of scalability. At the same time, they could shorten transportation routes, reduce material consumption and make construction sites safer. Aerial Robots for Disaster Relief
Aerial robots are particularly suitable for disaster relief operations – for example, in flooded or destroyed regions where conventional vehicles can no longer get through. They could transport building materials and autonomously erect emergency shelters. Their use is also promising for repairs in places that are difficult to access. They could autonomously detect and repair cracks on high-rise facades or bridges without scaffolding. Limitations and Challenges
While aerial robots have the potential to revolutionize the construction industry, they also face several challenges. Aerial Additive Manufacturing (AAM) requires simultaneous progress in three areas: robotics, materials science and architecture. A key hurdle is the interdisciplinary nature of the technology: Aerial AM requires lightweight, stable and processable materials, as well as building designs that are adapted to the limited precision of the aerial robots.
- Interdisciplinary coordination
- Limited flight time, payload or autonomy
- Energy consumption and construction volume
Complementing Existing Robots
The study presents an autonomy framework in five stages – from simple flights along a route to full independence, in which aerial robots can analyze the construction environment, detect errors and even adapt the design in real-time. According to Yusuf Furkan Kaya, this is not only a theoretical model but also a clear development plan. “Our goal is to have aerial robots that understand what material they are building with and in what environment, and intelligently optimize the resulting structure during construction.”
Drones and Construction
Aerial robots are not a replacement for existing ground-based robotic systems. Instead, they can be used as a complementary solution to existing systems. Drones’ energy consumption is currently eight to ten times higher, and their construction volume is also limited. Therefore, researchers recommend a combined approach: While conventional systems build the lower areas of a structure, drones take over from a certain height and bring their strengths in flexibility and range to bear there.
“Construction drones can be tested here under real-world conditions, further developed and brought to market maturity,” says Mirko Kovac, who heads the NEST unit developed in collaboration with Imperial College London.
DroneHub
The new DroneHub in Empa’s NEST research and innovation building plays a key role for Aerial AM. This multi-environment robotic testbed was designed as a bridge between the laboratory and industrial applications. “Construction drones can be tested here under real-world conditions, further developed and brought to market maturity,” says Mirko Kovac, who heads the NEST unit developed in collaboration with Imperial College London.
