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SHORT NEWS

Building like bees

#3d printing #bees #biology #drone #robotics

Swarms of bees as models for drones in construction: Empa has tested drones that work in teams under human control to 3D print materials for building or repairing structures.

Construction workers offroad: In areas that are difficult to access, drones could one day erect constructions in teamwork.

The new approach to 3D printing uses flying robots. These are drones that use collective building methods - inspired by natural builders such as bees and wasps. This was reported by scientists from an international research team led by drone expert Mirko Kovac from Empa and Imperial College London.

The system, called "Aerial Additive Manufacturing" (Aerial-AM), consists of a fleet of drones that work together for a single construction plan. It includes so-called "BuilDrones", which print materials and place them in the intended locations during flight, and "ScanDrones", which are used for quality control and continuously record the performance of the "BuilDrones". They specify the upcoming production steps.

Fewer risks and lower costs

The Aerial AM system is designed so that the drones can adapt their activity to the different geometries of the structure as the construction process progresses. A human "controller" observes the process and makes adjustments as needed - based on the information provided by the drones.

The trials so far have given the researchers confidence. According to them, the drones could facilitate construction and repair in hard-to-reach areas such as high-rise buildings and save costs.

Written by: sda

Photos: Yusuf Kaya / Imperial College London / Empa

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plastic waste in a garbage bin

Microplastics could promote cancer

According to a new study, tiny plastic particles can be passed on during cell division. This could potentially favour the spread of cancer.
April 15th, 2024
a baby in a newborn ward

AI diagnoses heart defects in babies

An artificial intelligence (AI) developed by Zurich researchers recognises a specific heart defect in newborns. According to the researchers, it has the potential to reduce the number of missed diagnoses of pulmonary hypertension.
April 29th, 2024
the new robot can mimic the softness of materials

Robot reproduces the softness of materials

A new robot can precisely mimic the softness of various materials. In future, medical students could use it to practise detecting malignant tumours or researchers could feel the softness of an object in space.
May 6th, 2024
PEBE

Are CO2 absorbers the saviors of the climate crisis?

In the fight against climate change, gigatons of carbon dioxide will have to be removed from the atmosphere over the course of the century - using so-called carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies are giving people new hope.
June 12th, 2024
pedestrians at a zebra crossing

New car camera detects pedestrians 100 times faster

A new type of car camera recognises obstacles 100 times faster than previous driver assistance systems. In future, this technology should help to brake cars in good time if a pedestrian suddenly runs into the road.
August 5th, 2024
Pedestrians walk on planks across a flooded square in Switzerland.

Climate change causes global economy to shrink significantly

According to a new forecast, the global economy is at risk of shrinking by around a fifth by the middle of the century due to climate change.
August 19th, 2024