Crest Robotics and Earthbuilt Technology have developed a semi-autonomous robot named Charlotte that combines robotics with 3D printing to construct building structures and walls directly from raw materials. The robot was showcased at the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Sydney this week, though it remains in the research and development phase. According to Crest Robotics founding director Clyde Webster, Charlotte is designed to be the “smallest possible thing” to 3D print a home by moving and straddling walls onsite.
The technology aims to streamline construction processes by eliminating multiple carbon-intensive steps involved in traditional building methods. Earthbuilt Technology co-founder Jan Golembiewski explained that “raw materials go in and walls come out, and that cuts out all the costs and all the carbon.” He claims the system “will work at the speed of over 100 bricklayers” by consolidating numerous manufacturing processes into a single machine.
The developers position Charlotte as a potential solution to labor shortages and productivity issues in the construction industry. University of Sydney researcher Neda Mohammadi noted that “labour constraints and delays are the two challenges of housing” and suggested robotics could help close the gap between required work and available skilled workers.
Beyond terrestrial applications, the team hopes to deploy Charlotte for lunar construction projects. Webster referenced NASA’s Artemis missions, which plan to return humans to the moon with the Artemis III launch in 2027, as a potential opportunity for the technology. The project has received funding from the NSW government’s Space+ program, and the developers are seeking additional support from space research partners at the IAC.
Source: abc.net.au