Robots work together to build 3D-printed concrete structure

Dubbed swarm printing, the method of concurrent 3D-printing from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is said to pave the way for a team of mobile robots to print even bigger structures.

Developed by Assistant Professor Pham Quang Cuong and his team at NTU’s Singapore Centre for 3D Printing, this new multi-robot technology was published in Automation in Construction.  The NTU scientist was also behind the Ikea Bot earlier this year where two robots assembled an Ikea chair in 8 min 55s.

According to NTU, this new development will allow for unique concrete designs not currently possible with conventional casting, thanks in part to a specially formulated cement mix suitable for 3D printing.

Currently, 3D-printing of large concrete structures requires huge printers that are larger than the printed objects, which is unfeasible on construction sites with space constraints. Having multiple mobile robots that can 3D print in sync means large structures like architectural features and specially-designed facades can be printed anywhere as long as there is enough space for the robots to move around the work site.