Institution:ICD/ITKE

Abstract: A research team at the University of Stuttgart has unveiled a novel "Collective Robotic Construction" system. Composed of multiple lightweight collaborative robots capable of traversing varied terrains, the system autonomously performs sensing, grasping, and high-precision assembly of complex timber structures on-site. The innovation lies in its "Co-Design" philosophy: the robotic swarm senses the non-standard geometric properties of timber—such as grain patterns and slight curvatures—and automatically adjusts assembly paths in real-time. This marks a significant shift in sustainable, low-carbon construction from factory prefabrication to fully automated on-site operations, drastically reducing material waste in timber building.

Link:https://www.icd.uni-stuttgart.de/news/Enhanced-Co-Design-of-a-Collective-Robotic-Construction-System-for-the-Assembly-of-In-Plane-Timber-Structures/