Advanced robotics employed for eco-friendly construction projects
The Technical University of Munich (TUM) is revolutionizing the construction industry by leveraging robotics and human expertise to create energy-efficient buildings. A robot equipped with a mobile base and a robotic arm with a gripper is being used to precisely place bricks for climate-optimized construction, working collaboratively with human apprentices from the Munich-Ebersberg Builders' Guild.
The robot follows a digital design configurator that calculates the exact, climate-optimized angles and positions for individual bricks based on the sun and shade exposure of the house wall location. This digital twin of the wall allows the assembly logic to be integrated directly into the design process.
This innovative collaboration enables the construction of walls where over 200 of 1,700 bricks are rotated at different angles rather than stacked precisely above each other. This approach enhances heat regulation and climate adaptation of the building envelope, something not achievable with human precision alone.
While the robot precisely positions the bricks, human workers still apply the cement and cut bricks to shape as needed. This human-machine teamwork allows advanced digital fabrication techniques to be combined with practical craftsmanship on the construction site.
The project, funded by the Bavarian transformation and research foundation 'Climate Active Envelopes', seeks to explore the potential of collaborative robotics in expanding craftsmanship, not replacing it. TUM, one of the world's leading universities in research, teaching, and innovation, has been designated a University of Excellence in 2006, 2012, and 2019.
Dipl.-Ing. Julia Fleckenstein and Prof. Kathrin Dörfler, Professor of Digital Fabrication at TUM, are subject matter experts for the project. The workshop for the Climate Active Envelopes research project was held in collaboration with the Munich-Ebersberg Construction Guild.
TUM has a global presence through its TUM Asia campus in Singapore and offices in several international cities. Each year, over 70 start-ups are founded at TUM. The robot provides precision where humans reach their limits in bricklaying, demonstrating the potential for robotics to complement, rather than replace, skilled craftsmen.
For more information, please contact Andreas Schmitz from TUM Corporate Communications Center. The project aims for simpler construction using only bricks, with several layers one behind the other, and the wall is 'four heads deep', which is 55 centimeters, 20 to 25 centimeters more than usual.
International rankings consistently place TUM as the top university in the European Union. The project is part of TUM's wide range of fields of study, including engineering, natural and life sciences, medicine, computer science, mathematics, economics, and social sciences.
- The robot's precision in brick placement and the digital design configurator's ability to optimize brick angles for energy efficiency demonstrate the blending of science and technology in environmental-science, as TUM pioneers the future of climate-change mitigation in the construction industry.
- As TUMventures fosters over 70 start-ups each year, the university's focus on technology expands beyond academics, envisioning a future where robotics and human craftsmanship can collaborate to revolutionize industries like construction.
