Bricklaying Robots in Construction

Bricks are one of the oldest building materials, dating back to 7000 BC for the sun-dried types and 3500 BC for the first kiln-fired blocks. The traditional bricklaying process involves spreading mortar, positioning a brick, and smoothing out excess mortar with a trowel, and unfortunately, this process hasn’t undergone much advancement to date.

According to a survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders, nearly two-thirds of bricklaying contractors struggle to find skillful workers.

The Evolution of Bricklaying Robots 

In 2014, British Pathé rediscovered Motor Mason from its newsreel archive and uploaded the footage. Motor Mason is a mechanical bricklayer developed as early as the mid-1960s. It claimed to lay bricks 5-10 times faster than the conventional method and was considered by the public as the solution to housing shortages.

Motor Mason was mounted on a rail parallel to a wall along which it would first drop mortar and quickly insert individual brick blocks. After a few years, Motor Mason suddenly vanished from the construction industry, leaving a mystery behind its disappearance.

In 2015, Construction Robotics introduced the first modern bricklaying robot, known as SAM100 (Semi-Automated Mason), at the World of Concrete event. SAM100 increases productivity by three to five times but was not physically adopted due to social concerns such as workforce safety and quality of work. 

Within a few years of its release, an Australian company named Fastbrick Robotics released its automated bricklaying machine called Hadrian X. This robot is technologically advanced with several new characteristics.

SAM100 was the first automated bricklaying robot available for commercial use for on-site masonry construction. It works in collaboration with trained masons. One mason is required to maneuver it, load it with bricks and mortar, while another mason is needed to conceal wall ties, remove excess mortar, and lay bricks in corners or other inaccessible areas.

SAM100 has the following components:

  • A giant robotic arm with multiple joints
  • A laser eye to detect depths and distances required to place each brick block
  • A pair of poles on the left and right of the work area
  • Computer-aided manufacturing generated design for mapping the job
  • A control panel

HADRIAN X

Hadrian X manages automatic loading, cutting, routing, and placement of bricks; it uses CAD to complete end-to-end bricklaying. It is built from steel, aluminum, and carbon fiber composites. Hadrian X is controlled by a network of computers, vision cameras, servo motors, and a laser tracker that monitors its laying position.

Advantages of Robotic Bricklayer

  • A robotic bricklayer can lay up to 3000 bricks per day, reducing the overall project duration.
  •  A robotic bricklayer is relentless; it doesn’t need any breaks.
  • A robotic bricklayer keeps operating as long as it has enough fuel, mortar, and brick, dramatically increasing productivity and efficiency.
  • It reduces labor costs by up to 50%.
  • A robotic bricklayer reduces the amount of physical labor, enabling them to work safer with less fatigue and a lower risk of injury.
  • The overall quality of wall alignment can be improved using a robotic bricklayer.
  • A robotic bricklayer is exceptionally good at lining bricks up vertically.
  • A robotic bricklayer can help reduce labor shortage problems. 








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