A robotic truck equipped with a 105-ft telescopic boom arm, named Hadrian X, has been shipped from Australia to Florida to demonstrate its utility in construction settings.
Developed by robotics company FBR, Hadrian X can reportedly lay up to 500 USA-format masonry blocks per hour. It is hoped the solution could be used to build entire communities efficiently and rapidly.
First revealed in 2015, the Hadrian X prototype was shown to complete a full-sized house in two days.
The advanced version, now in Florida, will begin by undergoing a site acceptance test at a facility in Fort Meyers.
If successful, it will construct five to 10 single-story homes in a demonstration programme as part of a joint venture with CRH Ventures Americas, Inc, a subsidiary of one of the largest US concrete block suppliers.
Hadrian X operates by sending blocks down a chute, coating them with quick-dry adhesive instead of mortar and placing them using a variable gripper.
Its long arm enables the construction of structures up to three stories tall, working around the clock without breaks, regardless of weather conditions, FBR reported.
FBR’s managing director and CEO, Mike Pivac, expressed excitement about entering the US market. He said: “We have set a clear strategy for the company to enter the United States market, and we will be doing so with the assistance of one of the largest concrete block manufacturers in the country.
“We are excited to arrive in a new international market to showcase the capabilities of our technology and commence our scaling plan with the financial and operational support of one of the world’s leaders in building materials production.”
