The introduction of Robots has brought about a significant change in the world of Architecture. The way buildings are planned, built, and maintained is being completely transformed by these cutting-edge technologies. Robotics is becoming more and more prevalent in Architecture, taking on a variety of jobs that people formerly completed. They may assist with sophisticated design creation, complex calculations, precise building construction, & and even building maintenance and monitoring. Robotic technology is a valuable addition to an Architect’s skill set. The advanced capabilities of Robots allow Architects to focus on the strategic and creative aspects of their profession. The construction industry in India makes up around 10% of the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Under the “Make in India” mission, it was projected that investments totaling $1,000 billion would be finished in the infrastructure sector over the following few years. Currently, the construction sector is the one with the least amount of experience in terms of automation. In wealthy countries, the significance of automation in buildings has increased significantly. Automation technologies combined with robotics; including new machinery, electronic gadgets, road automation, tunnels, bridge building, earthwork, etc. are necessary for the construction industries in growing nations like India.
India’s first two-storey 3D printed structure
After printing a one-story home utilizing robotic technology in November 2019, Larsen & Turbo Construction (L&T), the largest construction company in India, built the first 3D-printed two-storey building in the country in January 2021. The structure which has a modest 65sqm of floor area, was constructed using a large-format concrete 3D printer provided by OEM COBOD. Its concrete mix was created by L&T’s internal team using locally obtained 3D-printed concrete. Situated close to Chennai at the company’s Kanchipuram location, the structure satisfies all Indian construction regulations and even features integrated reinforcing bars. A significant achievement in and of itself is that L&T printed the building using its genuine concrete mix. According to COBOD, ready-mix mortars, which are quite simple to print with, have been used in the construction of the great majority of 3D-printed buildings to date. Regrettably, because ready-mix mortars lack coarse additives and have a maximum particle size of 4mm, they are often weaker than conventional concrete and cost a lot more to make. Moreover, mortars often do not follow most nations’ construction rules, which restricts the material’s scalability. In the “Housing for All by 2022” campaign, which aimed to build 60 million houses, the Indian Government, could have made better use of this cutting-edge technology. According to L&T, the latest 3D printed structure would likely open doors for more projects that will give the nation’s residents access to decent housing. The company believes that additive manufacturing would enhance the build quality of new residential structures across the area and lead to greater development in the use of robotics in India.
First 3D-printed post office in India
In August 2023, Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Minister for Railways, Communications, Electronics, and Information Technology, inaugurated the nation’s first 3D-printed post office. It is situated in Bengaluru’s Cambridge layout. Two days ahead of schedule, the post office was completed in just 43 days, and the Union Minister virtually opened it from the General Post Office building. Compared to traditional building methods, 3D printing technology saves 30 to 40% of the structure’s construction expenses. The technique not only saves time & and money but also gives the building’s design greater flexibility. Robotic systems were used in the construction to position building materials in layers to produce walls, floors, and roofs. Rebar reinforcing and slow bricklaying are two sluggish, conventional techniques of building structures; 3D printing produces structures far faster. For example, by utilizing 3D printing, a 2,000-square-foot house that would take around four months to build using traditional methods may be constructed in as little as seven to ten days. In 3D printing for buildings, materials are successively stacked using computer-controlled procedures to create the forms. The 3D printer builds the design on a platform using dimensions taken from a software application to produce a structure. The building material might be anything from plastic to cement to liquid materials.
Future of Robotics in Architecture
With so much promise, robotics in Architecture has a bright future in India. Robots will become smarter, more flexible, and more adaptive as technology develops. They will be essential in streamlining the repetitive operations, and building process and empowering Architects to execute even more ambitious designs. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI&ML) together will allow robots to learn from data and form their conclusions, more effectively. As revolutionary agents in the realm of architecture, robots have come to light. Their accuracy, effectiveness, and capacity for managing intricate assignments have completely transformed the sector. Robots are changing the architectural world by enabling Architects to push limits and build structures that were previously unthinkable, from concept to construction. As human and robotic skills become more integrated, Architecture appears to have a bright future, full of limitless possibilities, especially in a resource-filled, emerging nation like India.
Reference list:
“Built-in 43 Days: India’s First 3D-Printed Post Office Inaugurated in Bengaluru.” The Indian Express, 18 Aug. 2023, indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/india-first-3d-printed-post-office-inaugurated-bengaluru-8898130/. Accessed 16 Feb. 2024.
Former Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai on Budget.” Hindustan Times, 17 Feb. 2024, www.hindustantimes.com/cities/bengaluru-news/disappointment-former-karnataka-cm-basavaraj-bommai-on-budget-101708174125484.html. Accessed 17 Feb. 2024.
Hameed, Alisha, et al. “STUDY on ROBOTICS in INDIAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.” International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts, vol. 10, 2022, pp. 2320–2882, ijcrt.org/papers/IJCRT2208577.pdf.
“L&T Construction Completes India’s First 3D Printed Two-Storey Building in 106 Hours.” 3D Printing Industry, 15 Jan. 2021, 3dprintingindustry.com/news/lt-construction-completes-indias-first-3d-printed-two-storey-building-in-106-hours-182514/.
“Robots in Architecture: Transforming Architecture with Precision and Efficiency.” Www.linkedin.com, www.linkedin.com/pulse/robots-architecture-transforming-precision-efficiency/. Accessed 17 Feb. 2024.
