Fastbrick Robotics completes stability testing for Hadrian X construction robot
The aim of the dynamic stabilisation test was to prove that the Hadrian X could place a block with precision despite movement in the boom caused by external environmental forces.
Technology company Fastbrick Robotics (ASX: FBR) has confirmed yet another milestone on its path to create the world’s first autonomous “end-to-end bricklaying robot” that is able to construct full-sized residential homes.
The company is developing a revolutionary construction robot capable of building an entire single-storey house in under 2 days.
Earlier today, Fastbrick said it had successfully completed testing of its proprietary ‘Dynamic Stabilisation Technology’ (DST), a “major achievement” that effectively de-risks the remainder of the Hadrian X testing and commissioning phase.
According to Fastbrick, the aim of the DST test was to prove that the Hadrian X could place blocks despite being exposed to prohibitive conditions and “external environmental forces”.
To simulate the challenging conditions and to see whether its DST technology could ensure Hadrian X completed its intended design without error, external environmental forces were simulated using ropes to cause movement and an intended disturbance to the robot’s usual operation.
Despite the prohibitive conditions, Fastbrick says the Hadrian X was able to pick up blocks using the robot’s gripping mechanism and to adjust its activity to ensure all external forces were mitigated. The test was deemed completely successful with the company stating that the exercise “proved the functionality and adaptability of DST with the Hadrian X and a range of other applications”.
“Our success in this DST test cannot be understated. As well as being a major milestone for the Hadrian X programme, it demonstrates that we can take the technology we have developed for robotic bricklaying and implement it with a range of other applications. We have built on the initial learnings from the Hadrian 105 technology demonstrator and have confirmed that DST works with the Hadrian X in the way we envisaged,” said Mike Pivac, CEO of Fastbrick Robotics.
Next step in robotics
With the DST test completed and its technology gradually being validated, Fastbrick intends to develop a fully-fledged Hadrian X product that can be sold globally.
The company expects to make further tweaks as a part of an ongoing testing and streamlining phase before the Hadrian X can be marketed and sold to a mass audience around the world.
The next step for the programme is to conduct further commissioning activities on the remaining modules including further DST testing with the maximum load of Hadrian optimised blocks, before commencing what’s known as “factory acceptance testing”, a phase of testing that will require the Hadrian X to build structures in different configurations within a controlled factory environment.
Following the successful completion of FAT later this year, the Hadrian X will be field-tested in an outdoor environment in building its first full-size house: a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom structure, known as ‘Build1’ (commonly known as a standard bungalow by Australian property owners).
Fastbrick has said it expects to complete ‘Build1’ “in the second half of the 2018 calendar year” with aspects such as 3D CAD model design and Hadrian X software testing already completed.