Articles tagged with "construction-technology"
'World’s most advanced construction robot' completes factory tests
FBR Limited has successfully completed factory acceptance testing of its upgraded Hadrian bricklaying robot in Western Australia. The Hadrian robot is a mobile system mounted on a cab-over-engine truck, designed for easy transport to construction sites. It demonstrated improved reliability and accuracy by laying over 285 blocks per hour during tests, with a peak capacity of up to 360 blocks per hour. The robot features proprietary software that converts wall designs into precise block placements, reducing material waste, and employs dynamic stabilization technology to maintain accuracy despite movement or outdoor conditions. It can handle blocks weighing up to 99 pounds and reach up to 105 feet, operating efficiently with just two personnel. The Hadrian robot is built to withstand harsh weather, including winds up to 37.3 mph and light rain, using Fastbrick Adhesive for bonding. It is suitable for a variety of construction projects, from residential homes and townhouses to commercial buildings and childcare centers. FBR plans to offer the robot to select construction partners at
robotconstruction-robotbricklaying-robotautomationconstruction-technologyrobotics-in-constructionbuilding-automationSpider-like robot can 3D print homes in a day to fight housing crunch
Australia has developed an advanced spider-like robot named Charlotte, designed to address the housing crisis by 3D printing low-cost, low-carbon homes rapidly. Created through a collaboration between Crest Robotics and Earthbuilt Technology, Charlotte can autonomously print a 200-square-metre house within 24 hours by transforming readily available materials such as sand, earth, and crushed brick into structural walls. The robot employs a sustainable Earthbagging-like technique, compacting these materials in fabric layers to build durable structures efficiently, offering a scalable solution to the slow and costly traditional construction methods. Beyond Earth, Charlotte is engineered for lunar construction, supporting NASA and other space agencies' ambitions to establish permanent bases on the Moon. Its lightweight, foldable hexapod design makes it highly portable for space travel, unlike bulky traditional 3D printers, and allows it to extrude and compact lunar soil to build habitats such as domed shelters. This innovation positions Charlotte within a competitive global effort alongside companies like ICON and AI SpaceFactory
robotics3D-printingconstruction-technologylunar-habitatsautonomous-robotssustainable-buildingspace-explorationAffordable Homes, New Jobs, Lower Carbon: Inside the Carney Housing Plan - CleanTechnica
The article discusses Canada’s acute housing affordability crisis, driven by population growth and insufficient construction, with annual housing completions (240,000–270,000 units) falling far short of the 500,000 units needed. This shortfall has led to rising rents, increased homelessness, and reduced homeownership accessibility, especially for younger Canadians. Additionally, slow construction using high-carbon materials exacerbates climate challenges by locking in emissions. In response, the federal government has launched the Build Canada Homes initiative, a $13 billion federally capitalized development agency aimed at doubling construction rates by building directly, partnering with private developers, and scaling modern construction methods. The plan leverages 88 federal properties and public resources to accelerate projects, focusing on affordable and social housing that remains permanently affordable, including supportive housing and mixed-income communities, thereby stabilizing housing markets and reducing speculative pressures. A key innovation in the plan is the emphasis on factory-built modular housing and mass timber construction, which can significantly speed up building times (by
energycarbon-emissionsmass-timberconstruction-technologyaffordable-housingsustainable-materialsprefabricated-housingChina opens record-breaking world’s longest cable-stayed bridge
China has inaugurated the Changtai Yangtze River Bridge in Jiangsu province, marking it as the world’s longest cable-stayed bridge. Spanning 6.4 miles (10.3 kilometers) and connecting the cities of Changzhou and Taizhou, the bridge significantly reduces travel time from 80 to 20 minutes. Its main span measures 3,960 feet (1,208 meters), and the structure integrates an expressway, a local road, and an intercity railway on a single framework—a first for a Yangtze River crossing. Construction took about six years, with the bridge’s towers reaching 1,148 feet (350 meters), equivalent to a 120-story building. The Changtai Bridge set multiple world records, including the longest span cable-stayed bridge, the longest-span combined road-rail steel truss arch bridge, and the longest continuous steel truss girders. During construction, the project team achieved several engineering milestones such as the fastest sinking of large
materialsconstruction-technologysteel-structurescable-stayed-bridgeinfrastructure-engineeringindustrial-cranescivil-engineeringMass Timber’s Edge: Smaller Crews, Quicker Builds, New Floors Above - CleanTechnica
The article highlights the growing advantages of mass timber construction beyond its well-known environmental benefits, emphasizing its significant time and labor efficiencies. Mass timber projects consistently demonstrate faster build times and require smaller, more specialized crews compared to traditional concrete construction. For example, the nine-story Stadthaus building in London was erected by just four carpenters in 27 working days, whereas a comparable concrete frame would take five to six months with much larger crews. Similarly, Vancouver’s 18-story Brock Commons timber tower was completed in 66 days by nine installers, while a concrete equivalent would need six to eight months and 40 to 60 workers. Other projects like Minneapolis’s T3 office and Melbourne’s Forté building reinforce these findings, showing that mass timber can halve construction schedules and reduce onsite labor by 60 to 70 percent. This shift in construction methodology also changes workforce demands, concentrating labor into fewer, higher-skilled roles such as CNC operators, timber framers, and 3D modelers who work
materialsmass-timberconstruction-technologysustainable-buildingmodular-constructionCLTgreen-building-materialsBuilding The Workforce & Finance Tools For Mass Timber Growth - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica discusses the critical non-technical barriers to scaling mass timber construction in Canada, emphasizing workforce development and financial tools as key areas for growth. While mass timber’s engineering, fire safety, and carbon benefits are well established, challenges remain in economics, institutional support, and skilled labor availability. Unlike Europe, which has coordinated training programs producing skilled workers in digital modeling, CNC operation, and modular construction, Canada lacks a national strategy to develop the specialized workforce needed to support mass timber’s expansion. The article calls for collaboration among educational institutions and industry to train thousands of workers over the next decade. Financial volatility, particularly lumber price swings, presents another major hurdle. Unlike concrete and steel, mass timber lacks established futures markets or hedging mechanisms, making project costs unpredictable and deterring developers. The article stresses the need for financial instruments, long-term contracts, or vertical integration to stabilize input costs and enable reliable pricing. Insurance is also a concern, as Canadian insurers remain cautious due to limited data
materialsmass-timbercross-laminated-timbermodular-constructionsustainable-buildingconstruction-technologytimber-industrySweden's Kiruna Church makes 5 km journey to avoid mining subsidence
Sweden’s Kiruna Church, a 713-tonne wooden architectural treasure built in the early 1900s and once named the country’s most beautiful building, was relocated five kilometers to a new site in August 2025. This extraordinary engineering feat was undertaken to protect the church from subsidence caused by the expansion of the world’s largest iron ore mine beneath the town. The move, led by heavy-lift specialist Mammoet with support from Veidekke and timber experts, involved elevating the church onto steel beams and transporting it on self-propelled modular transporters with precise tilt controls to ensure structural integrity. The relocation took place over two days during optimal Arctic conditions, with thousands of residents and King Carl XVI Gustaf witnessing the event, which locals called “the great church walk.” The church’s move is part of Kiruna’s broader urban transformation, where entire neighborhoods and civic landmarks are being shifted to safer locations due to mining-induced ground instability. This process reflects a balance between
materialsminingengineeringstructural-preservationurban-transformationheavy-liftingconstruction-technologyAustralia’s first 3D-printed two-storey house built in just 18 hours
Australia’s first fully 3D-printed two-storey concrete home has been completed in Tapping, Perth by Contec Australia, marking a significant advancement in construction technology. The structural walls of the house were printed on-site in just 18 hours using a high-strength concrete mix that is three times stronger than standard brick. This innovative material is cyclone-rated, fire-resistant, termite-proof, and thermally efficient. The entire build, including roofing, wiring, and interior finishes, took five months, combining rapid robotic construction for the shell with traditional craftsmanship for the finishing work. The house features modern, open-plan interiors with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a garage, and a balcony, demonstrating that 3D-printed homes can be both stylish and livable. Large windows and sliding doors enhance natural light and indoor-outdoor flow. Importantly, Contec Australia reports that the project achieved a 22% cost saving compared to conventional masonry builds, due to faster wall construction, reduced material use,
robot3D-printingconstruction-technologyconcrete-materialsrobotic-constructionbuilding-automationsustainable-building-materialsAustrian hook-and-loop fastener to cut building repair costs
Scientists at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) in Austria have developed an innovative hook-and-loop fastening system designed to reduce construction waste and facilitate easier building repairs and adaptations. Inspired by Velcro, this 3D-printed fastener incorporates mushroom-shaped hooks directly into building components such as concrete, wood, or paper-based materials, enabling secure yet reversible connections. This allows structural elements like floors, interior walls, and installations to be swapped or upgraded without demolition, significantly extending a building’s service life and reducing material consumption. The fastener has demonstrated tensile strength comparable to industrial fasteners in laboratory tests, with future production methods like injection molding or stamped metal expected to enhance performance further. Primarily intended for indoor use on non-load-bearing walls and components housing wiring or plumbing, the system supports more sustainable construction practices by enabling selective replacement of worn or outdated parts. Complementing this, the ReCon project team also developed a digital tagging system using embedded RFID chips and QR codes to track material composition and installation data
materialsconstruction-technologysustainable-building3D-printingfastenersbuilding-repairconstruction-waste-reduction$195,000 3D-Printed Housing Come To The US
The article discusses the emerging presence of affordable 3D-printed housing in the United States, focusing on a project in Austin, Texas. The company Icon, in collaboration with Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, is developing a community featuring homes constructed using 3D-printing technology. These homes are priced around $195,000, aiming to provide cost-effective housing solutions. This initiative highlights the potential for 3D printing to address housing affordability challenges by reducing construction time and costs. The Austin project serves as a test case for the viability and scalability of 3D-printed homes in the US market, signaling a possible shift in how residential buildings are designed and built in the future.
materials3D-printingconstruction-technologyaffordable-housingsustainable-materialsadditive-manufacturingNew curing concrete can reduce cracks, save 8 billion liters of water
Asian Paints has launched CureAssure, the world’s first internal curing concrete additive, in the UAE. This innovative self-curing liquid additive eliminates the need for traditional external curing by enhancing moisture retention within the concrete, enabling controlled and uniform hydration. CureAssure is chloride-free and compatible with all types of portland cement, including those with pozzolanic materials, and various admixtures. It is suitable for diverse concrete applications such as pumped, precast, high fluidity, high strength, ready-mixed, and long-distance transport concrete. The key benefits of CureAssure include significant water savings—up to eight billion liters annually in the UAE—and a reduction in shrinkage cracks due to minimized stress during hydration. The additive is mixed with gauging water during batching and requires specific mixing protocols to optimize performance. Asian Paints emphasizes that CureAssure represents a fundamental shift in curing technology by addressing hydration internally rather than relying on external methods, resulting in more durable and reliable concrete structures.
materialsconcrete-additivewater-conservationconstruction-technologysustainable-buildingpolymer-additivescrack-reductionConstruction robotics finds interest, but adoption wavers, reports BuiltWorlds - The Robot Report
The construction industry is showing growing interest in robotics as a means to improve efficiency, responsiveness, and scalability on job sites, according to a recent report by BuiltWorlds Inc. The report highlights that contractors, owners, and technology providers are exploring robotics for tasks such as layout, drilling, and material transport, integrated with connected equipment and data-driven decision-making. This reflects a broader industry trend toward intelligent, tech-enabled workflows that connect field execution with digital planning and performance optimization. BuiltWorlds, a Chicago-based organization serving the building and infrastructure sectors, surveyed a diverse range of contractors and found that attitudes toward construction robotics have significantly improved, with positive evaluations rising from 74% in 2024 to over 95% in 2025. Despite the increased enthusiasm, actual deployment of construction robotics has slightly declined, with 46% of respondents reporting use of robotics or automated machinery in 2025 compared to 65% in 2024. This decrease is attributed not to waning interest but to
roboticsconstruction-roboticsautomationconstruction-technologyindustrial-robotsrobotics-adoptionsmart-constructionDusty Robotics adopts Hexagon’s Leica AT500 laser tracker
Dusty Robotics has integrated Hexagon’s Leica Absolute Tracker AT500 into its FieldPrinter 2 system to enhance setup speed, usability, and maintain its 1/16″ accuracy standard for applications in data centers, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing. The AT500’s compact, durable design and long-range measurement capability (up to 320 meters diameter) improve Dusty’s automated layout functions by offering greater operational efficiency and an alternative to traditional total station methods. Key features include IP54 dust and water protection, hot-swappable batteries, a controllerless design for streamlined setup, and the PowerLock system that maintains tracking even if the measurement process is temporarily blocked. This integration also advances Dusty’s floor elevation measurement capabilities, enabling efficient assessment of flatness and floor deviations critical for mission-sensitive environments. By embedding the lightweight LMF-e interface, the system allows dynamic trajectory correction without requiring complex industrial Ethernet real-time features, simplifying operations and reducing system complexity. Dusty will offer the AT500 as an additional tracker
robotlaser-trackerconstruction-technologyautomationprecision-measurementindustrial-roboticsmanufacturing-intelligenceUS uses high-precision 3D printing for Gen IV nuclear reactor parts
The United States is pioneering the use of high-precision 3D printing to create polymer forms for concrete components in advanced nuclear reactors, marking a shift away from traditional steel or wood molds. At Kairos Power’s Oak Ridge campus in Tennessee, these 3D-printed molds are being employed for the Janus shielding demonstration, a test precursor to building parts of the Hermes Low-Power Demonstration Reactor. Hermes is notable as the first advanced reactor to receive a construction permit from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The printed forms, each about 10 feet square and stacked three high, are used to cast the reactor’s bioshield—a thick concrete structure designed to absorb radiation and protect workers during operation. This additive manufacturing approach offers a cost-effective and time-efficient alternative to conventional methods, enabling the construction of complex geometries with high structural integrity under the pressure of wet concrete. The project, a collaboration involving Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Kairos Power, and the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (
energynuclear-energy3D-printingadditive-manufacturingadvanced-reactorsconstruction-technologymaterials-engineeringBedrock Robotics brings in $80M for construction retrofit kits - The Robot Report
Bedrock Robotics, a San Francisco-based startup founded in 2024 by former Waymo leaders and a Segment veteran, has emerged from stealth with $80 million in seed and Series A funding to develop autonomous retrofit kits for the construction industry. Instead of selling new machinery, Bedrock upgrades existing heavy equipment fleets with reversible hardware and software installations that enable fully autonomous operations. Their system, the Bedrock Operator, integrates high-definition cameras, lidar, GPS, and IMU sensors to provide survey-grade localization and expert machine capabilities, aiming to improve safety, accelerate project timelines, and increase profitability. The company already has active deployments on excavators at construction sites in Arizona, Texas, and Arkansas. The startup addresses critical challenges in the construction sector, including a severe labor shortage—500,000 workers short in the U.S.—and an aging workforce with 40% expected to retire within a decade. With U.S. manufacturing investment rising sharply amid reindustrialization efforts, Bedrock’s automation technology seeks to bridge
roboticsautonomous-systemsconstruction-automationheavy-equipment-retrofitBedrock-Roboticsindustrial-automationconstruction-technologyQatar turns desert sand into the world’s largest 3D printed structure
Qatar has embarked on constructing the world’s largest 3D-printed buildings—two public schools each covering 20,000 square meters—using massive custom-built printers from Denmark’s COBOD. This project, part of a larger plan to build 14 schools totaling 40,000 square meters, represents a 40-fold increase in scale compared to the previous largest 3D-printed structure, a 10,000-square-foot equestrian facility in Florida. The printers, each the size of a Boeing 737 hangar, extrude specialized concrete layer by layer to create walls with flowing, dune-like curves inspired by Qatar’s desert landscape. Over the past eight months, a multidisciplinary team in Doha has conducted more than 100 full-scale test prints, optimizing concrete mixes and printer technology to withstand Qatar’s harsh climate. Printing primarily occurs at night to enhance material performance and reduce environmental impacts such as dust, noise, and energy use. The project not only pushes the boundaries of large-scale additive
3D-printingconstruction-technologymaterials-scienceadditive-manufacturingconcrete-innovationdigital-constructioninfrastructure-development10x efficient solar robot to build farms faster in Australia
Luminous Robotics Inc., a Boston-based company, has developed an AI-powered robot named LUMI designed to automate and significantly speed up solar panel installation. Backed by $4.9 million in funding from the Australian government’s $100 million Solar Scaleup Challenge, the LUMI robot will be deployed at two large-scale Australian solar farms: the 440MW Neoen Culcairn Solar Farm in New South Wales and the 250MW Engie Goorambat East Solar Farm in Victoria. The robot autonomously picks up and places 80-lb solar panels onto racks, enabling onsite workers to complete the securing process more quickly and safely. This technology aims to reduce manual labor, improve installation speed by up to 3.5 times, and lower costs. The deployment of a full fleet of five LUMI robots in Australia marks the first global large-scale use of this technology, with potential cost reductions on solar farm construction estimated at up to 6.2%. ARE
robotsolar-energyautomationrenewable-energyAIsolar-panelsconstruction-technologyAll3 launches AI and robotics to tackle housing construction - The Robot Report
All3, a London-based company, has emerged from stealth mode to introduce an AI- and robotics-driven building system aimed at addressing the growing housing shortage in Europe and North America amid a severe skilled labor deficit. The company’s vertically integrated approach combines AI-powered custom building design, automated manufacturing, and robotic assembly, primarily using structural timber composites. This system streamlines construction processes from initial design to final build, enabling faster development, significant cost reductions, and improved sustainability and affordability. All3’s technology is particularly suited for complex urban brownfield sites, where irregular shapes and limited access pose challenges to traditional construction methods. The construction industry has historically underinvested in innovation, spending less than 1% of revenues on R&D compared to 4.5% in sectors like automotive, resulting in reliance on outdated, labor-intensive processes. Europe alone faces a shortage of 4.2 million construction workers, a gap expected to widen as many skilled workers retire. All3’s CEO, Rodion Shish
roboticsartificial-intelligenceconstruction-technologyautomationbuilding-materialssustainable-housingAI-in-constructionNew remote-controlled giant robotic saw slices rocks like butter
The KUKA Catonator is a groundbreaking remote-controlled robotic saw designed to revolutionize cutting in construction, shipbuilding, and heavy manufacturing. Mounted on the KUKA FORTEC KR 480 Ultra robotic arm, it features powerful spindle blades ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 mm in diameter, enabling it to slice through tough materials such as steel, concrete, and complex composites with high precision. The saw boasts a payload capacity of up to 300 kg and a reach exceeding 3 meters, combining brute cutting force with advanced automation to handle complex geometries previously unattainable by robots. The Catonator operates fully electrically, powered by a high-performance battery module that eliminates CO₂ emissions and reduces noise and exhaust fumes compared to traditional diesel-powered equipment. Its precision is enhanced by KUKA’s SmartProduction ecosystem, which provides real-time sensor data and machine learning algorithms to optimize cutting paths and blade performance, maintaining a tolerance as fine as 0.1 millimeters.
robotroboticsremote-controlautomationconstruction-technologyelectric-machinerysmart-productionWorld's first test shakes 3D-printed homes to check earthquake safety
The University of Bristol has conducted the world’s first large-scale earthquake safety test on a 3D-printed concrete home using the UK’s largest shaking table. This experiment aimed to evaluate whether 3D-printed homes can withstand seismic forces, addressing concerns about the structural integrity of this emerging construction method. By subjecting a quasi-real-scale 3D-printed concrete unit to progressively intense shaking, researchers closely monitored its response to identify potential weaknesses such as cracking or displacement. The goal is to compare 3D-printed structures with traditional buildings, validate computational seismic models, and ultimately determine if 3D-printed concrete can meet current earthquake safety standards. The project, led by Dr. De Risi, seeks to optimize design parameters like layer bonding and reinforcement integration to improve seismic performance. These findings are intended to inform engineers, architects, and policymakers, potentially leading to new building codes that incorporate additive manufacturing technologies. As 3D printing gains popularity for its affordability and sustainability, this research addresses
3D-printingearthquake-safetyconstruction-technologymaterials-scienceconcrete-innovationseismic-testingadditive-manufacturing432 robots move 7,500-ton building in China to make way for construction
The 100-year-old Huayanli complex in Shanghai, a 7,382-ton traditional shikumen-style building set covering 13,222 square feet, is being temporarily relocated about 10 meters per day using 432 small walking robots. This unprecedented engineering project aims to clear space for constructing a three-story underground facility beneath the complex, which will house 173,885 square feet of cultural and commercial zones, a parking garage with over 100 spaces, and a transport hub connecting Metro Lines 2, 12, and 13. The dense, historic Zhangyuan area, featuring narrow alleys and tightly packed buildings, necessitated innovative robotic solutions, including drilling and earth-moving robots capable of operating in confined spaces as narrow as 1.2 meters. Advanced technologies such as AI-driven deep learning, building information modeling (BIM), and point cloud scanning were employed to create detailed 3D models of the site, enabling precise planning of movement routes and soil removal paths. A factory-line-style conveyor belt system was implemented to efficiently remove soil with minimal disruption. Once the underground construction is complete, the Huayanli complex will be returned to its original location, integrating preserved historical architecture with modern underground infrastructure, thereby revitalizing the Zhangyuan area while maintaining its cultural heritage.
robotsroboticsconstruction-technologyAIcivil-engineeringbuilding-relocationautomation32-ton monster electric dozer packs 750 hp, charges 80% in 50 mins
robotIoTenergyelectric-vehiclesconstruction-technologyautonomous-machinerybattery-technologyPhotos: World's tallest 3D-printed tower blends tech, art, and climate
robotics3D-printingdigital-designarchitectureconstruction-technologyCO₂-capturematerials-scienceĐập thủy điện cao nhất thế giới bắt đầu trữ nước
robotIoTenergyhydropowerclean-energyconstruction-technologyenvironmental-monitoring