Automation in Construction in brief – 22/03/2025
Automation and Digitization
According to the media company 3D Printing Industry, 3D printing in 2025 will focus on sustainability, automation, and industrial integration. Advances in low-carbon materials, digital twins, and IoT-driven optimization will enhance efficiency. The construction sector is expected to expand offsite manufacturing, while personalized healthcare applications grow. Rising competition from Asia and improved post-processing automation will further drive adoption and scalability.
German industry is accelerating its shift toward fully digitized business processes. Companies are adopting digital twins and AI-driven analytics for real-time automation, while no-code platforms enable employees to tailor workflows without programming expertise. Standardization remains a hurdle, but efforts to enhance interoperability between industrial systems are advancing, signaling a broader transformation in digital manufacturing and decision-making.
Researchers at TU Ilmenau have unveiled new autonomous driving and 6G communication technologies at Hannover Messe. Their 6G system, leveraging AI and terahertz frequencies, promises ultra-low latency and high-speed data transfer, crucial for self-driving vehicles. Compared to 5G, 6G offers faster response times, more reliable connectivity, and energy efficiency. The team demonstrated how 6G-enabled cars can react to hazards in real time, enhancing traffic safety and automation.
Construction Robotics
Norwegian robotics firm 1X plans to test its humanoid robot, Neo Gamma, in several hundred homes by late 2025.Initially, Neo Gamma will operate under human teleoperators, collecting data to enhance its autonomous capabilities. This initiative reflects a broader industry trend, with companies like Figure and Tesla also developing humanoid robots for domestic use.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/21/1x-will-test-humanoid-robots-in-a-few-hundred-homes-in-2025/
Researchers have developed a cloud-based framework to improve task allocation in multi-robot transport systems, tackling challenges posed by unknown object weights and deadlocks. Robots share task experiences in real-time, dynamically adjusting priorities to exclude infeasible tasks. Simulations confirmed the system’s scalability, ensuring efficient autonomous transport and deadlock avoidance. The approach could enhance robotic logistics, paving the way for more adaptable delivery and warehouse automation.
Source: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10870902
A new study in the Journal of Cloud Computing proposes an AI-driven framework to optimize task allocation in cloud-robotic systems. By leveraging deep reinforcement learning, the model dynamically assigns tasks based on real-time computational demands, reducing latency and energy consumption. The approach aims to enhance efficiency in smart manufacturing and autonomous systems, addressing scalability and resource constraints in multi-robot environments.
Source: https://journalofcloudcomputing.springeropen.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s13677-025-00726-z.pdf
Small businesses are turning to “robots-on-demand” to stay competitive. A new leasing model allows firms to rent robots temporarily, avoiding high upfront costs. These systems assist with assembly, logistics, and inspections, offering flexibility without long-term commitments. Providers handle maintenance and software updates, making automation more accessible. The approach could help smaller manufacturers bridge labor gaps and adapt to fluctuating demand.
Munich-based Zippel has developed an AI-powered camera system designed to assist robots in palletizing. The technology analyzes package sizes and positions in real time, adjusting stacking strategies accordingly. By integrating machine learning, the system aims to improve adaptability in warehouse automation. Zippel’s innovation was recognized with a logistics innovation award for its potential impact on automated material handling.
German researchers have deployed a spherical robot to scan tunnels beneath the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest peak. Designed for icy environments, the autonomous system maps underground structures using lidar and cameras. The data will help monitor glacial changes and assess tunnel stability. The project, led by TU Munich, explores applications for robotic exploration in extreme conditions, including planetary research.
Space Construction
The European Space Agency (ESA) will host its Teach with Space Online Conference on July 9-10, 2025, targeting school teachers and educators. The event features keynote lectures from ESA experts on topics such as Earth observation, biodiversity, exoplanet exploration, lunar missions, and the application of artificial intelligence in space. Participants will also have the opportunity to engage with an ESA astronaut and explore STEM activities that demonstrate real-world applications of these subjects.
Source: https://www.esa.int/Education/Teachers_Corner/Join_the_ESA_Teach_with_Space_Online_Conference_2025
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander successfully concluded its 14-day mission on the Moon, completing all objectives before entering a planned shutdown as the lunar night commenced, which the lander was not designed for to surviv. The lander tested NASA payloads, including a radiation detector, a regolith adhesion study, and a navigation system for future Moon landings. Data gathered will inform Artemis missions and commercial lunar operations. Blue Ghost transmitted until March 16, capturing a lunar sunset before going silent.
The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have signed a statement of intent to enhance collaboration on lunar and Martian exploration. This agreement includes joint studies on integrating ESA’s Argonaut lander with JAXA’s pressurized rover within NASA’s Artemis program, potential extra-vehicular activity demonstrations at ESA’s LUNA facility, and cooperative efforts on Mars missions, such as a future sample return from Deimos.
According to Fast Company, NASA and private firms such as ICON and Redwire are developing 3D printing technologies to construct habitats on the Moon and Mars using local regolith. ICON, backed by NASA’s SBIR program, is working on large-scale lunar structures, while Redwire focuses on in-space manufacturing. These efforts aim to reduce reliance on Earth-supplied materials and establish sustainable off-world infrastructure for Artemis and future missions.
Source: https://www.fastcompany.com/91297482/3d-printing-moon-mars
