AssetID: 53237376
Headline: 'Robotic Digger' Can Autonomously Build Dry-Stone Wall
Caption: Scientists have programmed a robotic digger to autonomously build a huge dry-stone wall. Researchers from ETH Zurich, including Gramazio Kohler Research, the Robotics Systems Lab, Vision for Robotics Lab, and the Chair of Landscape Architecture, utilised the autonomous excavator, named HEAP, to construct the 65-metre-long and six-metre-high barrier. The wall is integrated into a digitally planned and autonomously excavated landscape and park, showcasing an innovative application developed as part of Switzerland's National Centre of Competence in Research for Digital Fabrication (NCCR dfab). Equipped with sensors, the excavator can independently create a 3D map of the construction site, identifying existing building blocks and stones for the wall's assembly. Specialised tools and machine vision methods enable the excavator to scan and grasp large stones in its surroundings, determining their approximate weight and centre of gravity. An algorithm then decides the optimal position for each stone, and the excavator autonomously carries out the task by placing the stones in the desired locations. In a single consignment, the autonomous machine can place 20 to 30 stones, comparable to the quantity supplied in a single delivery. This groundbreaking approach marks a significant advancement in digital fabrication techniques, demonstrating the potential for autonomous machines to contribute to construction processes.
Keywords: Dry-stone Wall,Feature,Construction,Science,Robotics,Technology,Architecture,Design,Tech,Robotic,Robots,Robot,ETH Zurich,Research
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