New research from Imperial College London and the University of Bristol is exploring the potential of aerial robotics in construction, particularly through a technology called Aerial Additive Manufacturing (Aerial AM). Published in Science Robotics, the study highlights the use of drones for mid-air material deposition, which could revolutionize the construction industry by improving safety, sustainability, and scalability.
Aerial AM offers significant advantages over traditional construction methods, as flying robots are not constrained by the limitations of ground-based machines. These aerial robots can operate in hard-to-reach or elevated areas, reducing risks to human workers performing similar tasks. The paper also introduces a tailored autonomy framework for Aerial AM, which addresses challenges related to flight coordination, material deposition accuracy, and large-scale manufacturing scalability.
The technology is currently being tested at DroneHub, located at EMPA (the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology) in Switzerland. This testing facility provides an opportunity to evaluate flying construction robots outside the laboratory setting. Early tests have shown promising results, including rapid on-demand repairs and modular assembly techniques, which could have far-reaching implications for the construction sector.
Dr. Basaran Bahadir Kocer, co-author from the University of Bristol’s School of Civil, Aerospace and Design Engineering, notes that while the field is still in its early stages, Aerial AM shows significant potential. However, challenges remain, including material durability, effective localization systems for outdoor environments, and coordination between multiple flying units. Overcoming these obstacles is crucial to unlocking Aerial AM’s full potential in real-world applications.
This collaboration between the University of Bristol and EMPA, supported by fully-funded PhD studentships, is advancing the research and development of aerial robotics in construction. Additionally, the University of Bristol’s infrastructures, such as the Flight Lab, Bristol Robotics Lab, and Aerial Robotics Group, further support these efforts, helping to drive the adoption of this emerging technology across industries.
