Aerial 3D Printing Drone Swarm

Here at 3D Rapid Print, one of the fastest growing 3D Printing companies in the Thames Valley, we like to keep abreast of the latest innovations in 3D printing.

On September 21st 2022, Imperial College London announced that a group of researchers from there and Empa had created a fleet of 3D printing drones that could build and repair structures while in flight. (Empa refers to the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology.) The drones are fully autonomous while flying, but are monitored by a human controller who can intervene if necessary. The team’s research was published in the journal Nature.

The team’s demonstration-of-concept builds included 2 3D printed cylinders. One was made with a polyurethane-based foam material and measured 2.05m tall over 72 layers, while another was made with a custom-designed structural cementitious material and measured 18cm tall over 28 layers. The team argued that their technology could be used for building in hard-to-reach or dangerous areas like tall buildings, or help with post-disaster relief construction. They also intend to work with construction companies to further develop their concept.

Another example of 3D printed swarming robots involves the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. In October 2021, it spoke of robotics engineer Yasemin Ozkan-Aydin’s work experimenting with building them. Equipped with 4 legs, each robot measured between 15 and 20cm long and was powered by a lithium polymer battery and microcontroller. In addition, they could join together via magnets and had flexible legs, which reduced the need for other parts and gave them a level of mechanical intelligence to help them navigate rough or uneven terrain. Ozkan-Aydin’s research was published in the journal Science Robotics.

3D printing is an amazing tool. It can grow your small business or start a mini revolution in an industry. Explore what it can do for you when you contact us today.

Disclaimer: Featured image of “Brehms Tierleben. Allgemeine kunde des Tierreichs (1911-19-) (20404526962)” (as it is known on Wikimedia Commons) was taken from Flickr’s The Commons and has no known copyright restrictions. (On Flickr it is known as “ Image from page 354 of “Brehms Tierleben. Allgemeine kunde des Tierreichs” (1911-19-).”)