Excavator of the future: Swiss researchers have created a “robot builder” that built a wall of boulders on its own (video)
One of the most challenging tasks in construction is to build walls from boulders of various shapes and sizes. It requires a lot of physical strength and spatial thinking. But you can entrust this hard work to
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to the construction robots
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In fact, one robot has already done so.
The HEAP (Hydraulic Excavator for Autonomous Purpose) robot is a 12-ton Menzi Muck autonomous walking excavator that has been modified by a team of Swiss researchers at ETH Zurich. These modifications included the installation of a GNSS global positioning system mounted on the chassis of the IMU (inertial measurement unit), a control module and LiDAR sensors in the cab and excavator boom.
Using sensors, the robotic excavator can autonomously draw a 3D map of the construction site and localize existing boulders weighing several tons. The robot then lifts each boulder out of the ground using machine vision technology to estimate its weight and center of gravity, and record its three-dimensional shape.
An algorithm was developed to determine the optimal position of each stone. The excavator then performs the task by placing the stones in the designated locations. An autonomous machine can place 20 to 30 stones in one batch. The experimental system allows the use of local boulders or other building materials, which reduces the need to transport materials from other locations.
Researchers at ETH Zurich demonstrated this process by building a separate stone wall (10 x 1.7 x 4 meters) and a permanent retaining wall (65.5 x 1.8 x 6 meters), combined with terraces formed by the robot (665 square meters). The wall is built into a landscaped park.
