Construction workers could soon spend more time building and less time preparing. hp has sleepless a SitePrint robot that autonomously prints designs on construction site floors. With the help of a remote control tablet and cloud tools, the machine can outline walls, doors and other elements with little intervention; you can avoid unexpected obstacles, including steep drops. The company claims that the bot can finish a design in a “fraction” of the time it takes for humans, though this will vary depending on the complexity of the project.
The robot includes two batteries that can each handle up to four hours of printing. You can print on surfaces like concrete, plywood and terrazzo, even if they are rough. You can also choose inks that last for days or months to fit a given job’s timeline.
HP is making the SitePrint robot available to North American businesses this month as part of an early access program. The finished automaton and a full-scale launch are planned for 2023. The hardware has already been tested in projects ranging from airports to hospitals.
There is clearly concern that SitePrint could automate people out of work. the robot alone requires one operator versus the two or three people normally needed for manual layouts. However, your timing might be particularly right. As in many other fields, the construction industry is dealing with labor shortage. Robots like SitePrint could help builders make the most of limited staff or take on more ambitious tasks without hiring larger teams.
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