Researchers develop autonomous 3D-printing drones inspired by bees
An international team of researchers from Imperial College London and the Swiss Federal Laboratories of Materials Science and Technology have developed autonomous, bee-inspired 3D-printing drones. They would work in fleets, cooperatively building and repairing structures while flying. The drones, collectively, are known as Aerial Additive Manufacturing (Aerial-AM). The system consists of BuilDrones, which deposit materials during flight, and quality-controlling ScanDrones. While fully autonomous, human intervention is still required to keep an eye on the progress. The researchers believe this technology can provide a safer approach for building or repairing structures in precarious situations. The research was led by Professor Mirko Kovac of Imperial’s Department of Aeronautics and the Swiss Federal Laboratories of Materials Science and Technology’s Materials and Technology Center of Robotics. Aerial AM foam 3D print made by a BuilDrone and a ScanDrone. Image: Sarah Lever Photogr...
An international team of researchers from Imperial College London and the Swiss Federal Laboratories of Materials Science and Technology have developed autonomous, bee-inspired 3D-printing drones. They would work in fleets, cooperatively building and repairing structures while flying.
The drones, collectively, are known as Aerial Additive Manufacturing (Aerial-AM). The system consists of BuilDrones, which deposit materials during flight, and quality-controlling ScanDrones. While fully autonomous, human intervention is still required to keep an eye on the progress.
The researchers believe this technology can provide a safer approach for building or repairing structures in precarious situations.
The research was led by Professor Mirko Kovac of Imperial’s Department of Aeronautics and the Swiss Federal Laboratories of Materials Science and Technology’s Materials and Technology Center of Robotics.
