Automation in Construction in brief – 29/03/2025
Automation and Digitization
At a VDI nachrichten web panel ahead of the Hannover Messe, experts discussed the growing benefits of digital transformation in Industry 4.0. Key insights emphasized the importance of involving multiple companies in data ecosystems and establishing clear, practical strategies for engaging with industrial data rooms. Experts advocated for a phased approach to data integration, focusing on clustering machine data first, then expanding to external partners. The goal is to build secure, coordinated data spaces that facilitate broader value creation.
OpenAI has refined its image generation system, easing restrictions on public figures and cultural symbols while maintaining safeguards against harmful content. The update expands creative possibilities, allowing various artistic styles while restricting direct imitation of living artists. However, the changes raise concerns about misinformation and deepfakes. OpenAI acknowledges these risks, implementing transparency measures, but critics warn that the system could still be misused for deceptive purposes.
Source: https://cdn.openai.com/11998be9-5319-4302-bfbf-1167e093f1fb/Native_Image_Generation_System_Card.pdf
Open-source developers are pushing back against AI companies scraping their code without consent. Some are embedding misleading or disruptive data to deter automated crawlers, while others are enforcing stricter licensing terms. The backlash highlights growing tensions between AI firms and the open-source community, as developers seek to protect their work from being used to train proprietary models without compensation or credit.
Earth AI’s machine learning algorithms have identified critical mineral deposits in previously overlooked locations. By analyzing geological data, the company has pinpointed new sources of lithium, nickel, and rare earth elements essential for batteries and electronics. The findings challenge traditional exploration methods and could reshape supply chains, offering alternatives to resource dependence on major mining nations like China and Australia.
Google has unveiled Gemini 1.5 Pro, its most advanced AI model to date. The system boasts a longer context window, improved reasoning capabilities, and enhanced efficiency in processing text, images, and code. Designed to compete with OpenAI’s latest models, Gemini 1.5 Pro aims to power Google’s AI-driven services, though challenges in accuracy and ethical AI deployment remain key concerns.
Dan Hendrycks, director of the Center for AI Safety, warns against pursuing a rapid, secretive “Manhattan Project” for AI, a concept first suggested by figures like Sam Altman. Hendrycks argues that such an approach could pose safety risks and hinder global cooperation. He advocates for a more cautious, collaborative strategy, emphasizing the need for safety over speed in AI development.
At the Hannover Messe, the “Microsoft Intelligent Manufacturing Award” (Mima) highlighted AI-driven innovations transforming manufacturing. Continental’s AI solution cuts the time needed for product development by analyzing and optimizing design requirements, reducing errors and variants. Zeiss Digital’s continuous process optimization tool predicts product quality in real-time, slashing defects and increasing productivity. Sick’s AI-assisted system provides predictive quality assurance with 99% accuracy. These advancements demonstrate AI’s potential to streamline manufacturing and improve operational efficiency across industries.
Source: https://www.ingenieur.de/hannover-messe/die-buerokratie-in-der-industrie-mit-ki-zaehmen/
Construction Robotics
At the inaugural German Robotics Conference in March 2025, DLR showcased its innovative robotics research, including the EMG-controlled EDAN robot for aiding people with motor disabilities and the CLASH robotic hand designed for delicate tasks like fruit handling. The event underscored Germany’s growing role in AI-driven robotics, with strong ties to both academic and industrial sectors. AI-based robotics is emerging as a key growth area in global tech, with Germany positioned as a leader in this field.
Source: https://www.dlr.de/en/latest/news/2025/dlr-at-the-german-robotics-conference
Engineers at Northeastern University have developed a hybrid robot that combines the strengths of both hard and soft robotics. This robot is flexible like an octopus tentacle, allowing delicate maneuvers, but also strong enough to perform tasks like applying torque, such as screwing in a lightbulb. This new approach uses innovative materials to enable both flexibility and rigid movement, offering a breakthrough in robot design that balances precision and versatility.
Source: https://techxplore.com/news/2025-03-hybrid-robot-strength-flexibility-lightbulb.html
Space Construction
ESA’s ExoMars mission is back on track with a fully European landing platform for the Rosalind Franklin rover. Following Russia’s withdrawal from the project, ESA has redesigned the lander, aiming for a 2028 launch. The rover will drill beneath Mars’ surface in search of past life, using European-built instruments and a descent system adapted for the Red Planet’s challenging conditions.
NASA is testing precision landing technology to improve spacecraft accuracy on the Moon and Mars. The system, featuring advanced sensors and real-time terrain mapping, aims to help future missions avoid hazards and land safely in challenging environments. Recent trials focused on refining autonomous navigation, a critical step for crewed Artemis missions and robotic explorers venturing to scientifically significant but rugged terrain.
Source: https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/stmd/the-skys-not-the-limit-testing-precision-landing-tech-for-future-space-missions/
NASA’s cloud-based trajectory software, originally developed for mission planning, is now aiding private companies in satellite deployment. The tool enables firms to optimize orbital paths, reducing costs and collision risks. Startups and commercial space ventures use it to refine launch strategies and manage satellite constellations more efficiently, highlighting how NASA’s innovations continue to shape the expanding space economy.
Source: https://spinoff.nasa.gov/Cloud_Software_for_Above_the_Clouds
NASA’s dust shield has successfully protected equipment from lunar regolith during tests on the Moon’s surface. The technology, designed to shield spacecraft and lunar habitats from abrasive dust, performed well in harsh lunar conditions. This advancement could improve long-term missions, preventing dust from damaging sensitive systems and supporting NASA’s goals for sustainable lunar exploration, including future Artemis missions.
Source: https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/nasas-dust-shield-successfully-repels-lunar-regolith-on-moon/