An international team of researchers has created a fleet of bee-inspired drones that work together to 3D-print structures while flying. It is hoped the technology could be used in challenging post-disaster construction scenarios or to carry out repairs to buildings that are hard to access.
This content was published on
3 minutes
EMPA/swissinfo.ch/sb
العربية
ar
علماء يطورون سربًا من طائرات بدون طيار تقوم بالطباعة ثلاثية الأبعاد أثناء التحليق
The new 3-D printing approach was led by scientists from Imperial College London and the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) who developed the drones that use collective building methods inspired by bees and wasps.
When working together so-called “BuilDrones” deposit materials during flight, while quality-controlling “ScanDrones” continually measure the BuilDrones’ output and inform their next manufacturing steps. The drones are fully autonomous in flight, but their activities are monitored by a human controller who checks progress and intervenes if necessary, based on the information provided by the drones.
External Content
“We’ve proved the concept that drones can work autonomously and in tandem to construct and repair buildings, at least in the lab. This scalable solution could help construction and repair in difficult-to-reach areas, like tall buildings,” saidExternal link lead researcher Mirko Kovac of Imperial’s Department of Aeronautics and EMPA’s Materials and Technology Centre of Robotics. The team published their workExternal link in Nature on September 21.
3D printing is becoming more popular in the construction industry. Both on-site and in the factory, static and mobile robots print materials for use in construction projects, such as steel and concrete structures.
To test the concept, the researchers developed four cement-like mixtures for the drones to build with. During the construction phase, the drones assess the printed geometry in real time and adapt their behaviour to ensure they meet the build specifications, with manufacturing accuracy of five millimetres.
The proof-of-concept work included a 2.05-metre cylinder (72 layers) with a polyurethane-based foam material, and an 18-centimetre cylinder (28 layers) with a custom-designed structural cement–like material.
The researchers plan to work with construction companies to validate the technology, which they believe will provide significant cost-savings and reduce access risks compared to traditional manual methods.
The Swiss-UK team collaborated with scientists from the University College London, the University of Bath, the University of Pennsylvania, the Queen Mary University of London, and the University of Munich.
More
More
Swiss drones to the rescue!
This content was published on
Researchers and mountain rescuers in Switzerland are making huge progress in the field of autonomous drones.
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss army uses drone technology. Should we worry?
This content was published on
The same small drones that search for missing people and transport medicines are increasingly being used on the battlefield.
This content was published on
An international team with representatives from Switzerland has won the three-year Subterranean Challenge robotics competition.
This content was published on
FlyabilityExternal link impressed the 100-strong jury with its successful record during the first five years of operations, along with the company’s future commercial potential. Its small, lightweight drones are designed to reach inaccessible, hazardous or confined areas such as disaster zones. The spin-off firm from Lausanne’s Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) already has an impressive…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.