A robotic truck with a 32-metre telescopic boom arm has just traveled from Australia to Florida. Now the construction robots will be busy churning out up to 10 houses to become the chosen employees for building the entire community.
The truck and its accompanying bricklaying arm are known as Hadrian X and were developed by robotics company FBR, which first announced a prototype in 2015. This machine can complete a full-size house in two days. Last year, FBR (short for Fastbrick Robotics) introduced its new Hadrian X, which can lay 500 US-format brick blocks per hour at top speed.
The robotic vehicle/construction arm starts work after being loaded onto a pallet containing blocks. Each block is then sent down a chute on the arm, painted with a quick-drying construction adhesive that replaces mortar, and placed with a variable gripper at the end of the arm. Thanks to its impressive length, the arm can build structures as high as three stories. Plus, because it’s a robot, it doesn’t need to sleep or rest even when the weather is bad, so it can be on the move almost 24/7.
Hadrian
The plan is for the robot’s builders to first demonstrate its capabilities by completing field acceptance testing at a facility in Fort Myers, Florida. If this goes well, Hadrian X will build five to 10 single-story homes as part of a pilot program. Once this is completed, the two companies will enter into a more permanent agreement in which FBR will become CRH Ventures’ exclusive “Wall as a Service” provider in the United States.
This agreement could eventually lead to the phased purchase of 300 Hadrian X devices from FBR, which would be used to create an entire robot-based community.
“We have a clear strategy for our company to enter the U.S. market and we will do so with the help of one of the largest concrete block manufacturers in the country,” said Mike Pivac, FBR Managing Director and CEO. We are excited to enter new international markets, showcase the capabilities of our technology and begin our expansion plans with the financial and operational support of one of the world leaders in building materials production.”
You can learn more about Hadrian X and its work in the United States in the following company video:
Get ready, America! The future of construction is now available with Hadrian X®! | FBR
Source: FBR
