To demonstrate the drones’ capabilities, the researchers asked them to use foam and a special form of lightweight cement to build structures ranging in height from 0.18 meters to 2.05 meters. . They are built within 5mm of the original blueprint.
Then, to demonstrate that the system could work on more complex shapes, the team used lights on the drone to create a time-lapse sequence of light trails as they simulated the work. creating a tall dome-like structure. Their work is described in an article in Nature today.
Mirko Kovac, director of the Aerial Robotics Laboratory at Imperial College London, who led the research, said the method could be used to build buildings in the Arctic or even on Mars. or simply to help repair tall buildings that would normally require expensive scaffolding.
