Building clay walls with novel robotic ‘dropping’ technique

Researchers at ETH Zurich in Switzerland have developed a robotic 3D printing process using high-velocity clay deposits to build walls quickly and sustainably.

From Superinnovators 17/09/24

Entire houses can be constructed using clay or excavated earth, materials that are affordable, abundant, and sustainable.

However, traditional building methods for earth-based materials are labour-intensive, slow, and costly.

Researchers at ETH have now developed a novel 3D printing process known as “impact printing” to address these challenges, with the results shared in a video released this week.

In this technique, a robot rapidly drops/shoots material from above, constructing walls without needing cement or pauses for material solidification.

Upon impact, the material bonds together using only minimal additives, creating a solid structure.

Currently, the process uses a mixture of excavated materials, silt, and clay, which is then deposited at up to 10 meters per second.

The researchers say this method can be applied to construct one- to two-storey walls and column structures.

According to the team, they are also developing a robotic method for reinforcement, expanding the types of structures that can be built.

The custom material mix design contains 75% waste products, making it an environmentally friendly and low-carbon option.

ETH researchers believe this technique could reduce dependency on skilled labour, speed up construction, and compete with modern building materials.

More info

https://gramaziokohler.arch.ethz.ch/web/e/forschung/451.html

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