Robotic drones to ‘print’ emergency shelters

The research team aims to develop drones that can use an Additive Building Manufacturing (ABM) system to reach remote and disaster areas, and 3D print structures such as shelters and buildings, providing much needed disaster relief.

The drones being developed could fly to a disaster zone, scan and model the landscape using Building Information Management (BIM) systems, design temporary shelters, and print them on the spot. This could give those in need a place to live until emergency services personnel can reach them.

ABM is a key technological building revolution currently transforming the construction industry by allowing the 3D printing of buildings and building components, resulting in quicker build times and reduced material and transport costs.

However, due to their large size, ABM systems are inflexible making it difficult for them to undertake maintenance and repair work, especially in remote and rural areas.

Whilst many drones are used for photography and surveillance, the drones in this project will utilise a revolutionary ABM system to remotely manufacture building structures such as shelters and bridges for those in need.

In order to use this type of system for post-disaster reconstruction activities where the manufacturing speed of ABM would be hugely beneficial, the research team aims to develop the world's first ABM system consisting of a swarm of aerial robots that can autonomously assess and manufacture building structures.

To do this, the team plans to miniaturise ABM and give it aerial capabilities so that it can be more mobile and able to manufacture complex high-rise structures. This would enable the robots to act as flying mini-factories, where they would land at to a construction site and work together to create buildings from scratch.

Co-investigator and Senior Lecturer in our Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering, Dr Richard Ball said: “We are delighted to be part of this ambitious and exciting project which will push the forefront of construction technologies into the future.”

Co-investigator and Senior Lecturer in our Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering, Dr Chris Williams added: “It is exciting to be working on a project where the structure has to be so light and efficient that it can be built by small flying drones.”

The University’s Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering was ranked equal first in the UK in Architecture & the Built Environment for the high quality and international impact of its research (2014 Research Excellence Framework). In the assessment, 85 per cent of its research output was judged to be internationally excellent while 90 per cent of its research impact was judged outstanding.