Aerial-AM drones take cues from bees to 3D print structures

The lab tested technology could be used for manufacturing and building in difficult-to-access or dangerous locations including tall buildings or help with post-disaster relief construction, the researchers said. Their findings are published in Nature.

Both on-site and in the factory, static and mobile robots are already printing materials for use in construction projects. This new approach to 3D printing employs drones that use collective building methods inspired by natural builders like bees and wasps who collaboratively create large, intricate structures.  

The drones in the Aerial-AM fleet are said to work co-operatively from a single blueprint, adapting their techniques as they go. They are fully autonomous while flying but monitored by a human controller who checks progress and intervenes if necessary, based on information provided by the drones. 

In a statement, lead author Professor Kovac, of Imperial’s Department of Aeronautics and Empa’s Materials and Technology Center of Robotics said: “We’ve proved that drones can work autonomously and in tandem to construct and repair buildings, at least in the lab. Our solution is scalable and could help us to construct and repair building in difficult-to-reach areas in the future.”