Robot to build 11 houses in world-first for Perth

Robot to build 11 houses in world-first for Perth

Robotic bricklaying company Fastbrick Robotics has signed an agreement with a Perth-based builder to construct the world’s first brick homes using the company’s innovative machine.

Video Fastbrick Robotics

Under a framework agreement, Fastbrick and Archistruct Builders and Designers will collaborate to build 11 homes using the company’s Hadrian X robot.

Each house will have a minimum floor plan of 180sqm consisting of at least three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Archistruct will be supplying the land and all the building services required to complete the homes.

Archistruct will sub-contract Fastbrick to provide and operate the Hadrian X to build the brickwork from slab to cap forming part of a residential home which Archistruct will build.

Fastbrick is now building the Hadrian X commercial prototype, which it says will vastly improve the speed, accuracy and safety of global brick construction.

Construction of the Hadrian X follows successful "proof of concept" achieved by the Hadrian 105 technology demonstrator model.

Fastbrick Robotics chief executive Mike Pivac said the agreement would ensure the world’s first fully automated brick structures were built in Perth.

“The framework agreement also presents a fantastic opportunity for our commercial pilot, where we will demonstrate to the world the capabilities of the Hadrian X,” he said.

Archistruct director Domenic D’Agnone said the Hadrian X could revolutionise the residential construction space through automation, and the company believed it would add significant value to its clients.

The framework agreement, which is non-binding and non-exclusive, requires a formal agreement to be signed to detail the terms of the collaboration.

Fastbrick shares closed down 0.4 cents, or 5.71 per cent, at 6.6 cents after emerging from a trading halt and hitting an intraday high of 8.1 cents.

Today's closing price gives the company a market capitalisation of $43.7 million

 

When the rest of the world is looking at prefab and modular construction and a Perth team develops a robot to automate the construction of double-brick houses, it’s hard to know whether to feel delighted or distressed! Hats off to the team at Fastbrick Robotics, however as an industry I can’t help but feel we should be casting our net a little wider...

 

Very interesting but who applies the mortar?

 

The video is great - but there is no mortar on the bricks!

 

Haha yeah I noticed that too.

 

Couldn't agree more (and I am a bricklayer by trade).

Why re-invent the horse and cart when there are cars available.

What we need is a savvy marketing campaign to educate the WA public on the advantages of different materials (similar to the one that instilled bricks as the superior product).

 

Lets hope no big bad wolves come along and huff and puff !!

 

I think the Mortar is actually an adhesive.

 

Looks like it.

Instead of traditional cement, Hadrian X will use a construction glue.

'By utilising a construction adhesive rather that traditional mortar, the Hadrian X will maximise the speed of the build and strength and thermal efficiency of the final structure,' the firm said.
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Watch Hadrian X the robot builder that can create a house in two days

 

There's also the mortar free Pentablock that could be used

 

This is called SAM and developed by an US company however there are similar robotic developments in Switzerland.

 

Hmmm I wonder how much thinner than mortar it is... So when you buy a place that's '28 course' ceiling height built by Hadrian X its actually 10cm lower than you expected!

 

Adhesive is fine for horizontal joints, but missing the perps is part of the strength of a wall.

Bit drafty, too.