FRONTIER TECH VIDEO CLIPS

In an effort to present a few examples of "frontier tech" for the AEC world, we have put together a small collection of intro videos on what we believe to be transformation technologies that will change the way teams in AEC and FM industries design and deliver projects.

QNECT

A simple Tekla plug-in that utilizes the power of cloud computing to optimize horizontal bracing and bolt patterning of structural steel stick models. Qnect is demonstrating average total cost saving of $60/ton of steel in the form of reduced material, bolts, and labor.

Tags: Design Automation, Design Optimization

BRANCH TECHNOLOGIES

Proprietary 3D printer and extruded material for the reinforcement of walls -- potentially achieving "3D printed rebar" in the future

Tags: Robotics, Additive Manufacturing / 3D printing

ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

Purpose-built large-scale 3d printer gantry system for 1-day construction of a FOB barracks.

Tags: Robotics, Additive Manufacturing / 3D printing

UBISENSE | AngleID

A construction time study/productivity solution relevant to Rhumbix. The wireless sensor for location tracking in GPS-denied metallic environments solves the problem of complexity in traditional systems that passively collect data for statistical process control.

Tags: Real-time Location Systems (RTLS), Sensors, Productivity Tracking

PNEUBOTICS

A lightweight "soft robot" powered by compressed air that allows for the safe close proximity of laborers to robotic arms. Painting, sanding, cleaning, patching, and other "surface treatments" are potential applications.

Tags: Robotics, Process Automation

LONG PIPES | Fluid Highway

Continuously extruded, seamless, composite pipe or lightweight segments that speed up installation. The material can be produces with embedded fiber optics and sensors for monitoring.

Tags: In-place Manufacturing Automation

EKSO BIONICS | ZeroG

The ZeroG arm carries the weight of an attached tool to increase safety, improve quality, and speed up production. Future solutions help workers hold their arms during overhead work and allow workers to carry heavy materials with worn exoskeletons.

Tags: Workforce Augmentation, Exoskeletons

FASTBRICK ROBOTICS

3D printer using blocks of material and industrial adhesive.

Tags: Robotics, Labor Automation

WILLIAMS ROBOTICS

Williams Robotics is designing and manufacturing robotic systems that will build the homes of the future, beginning with a system that automates the construction of stub wall panels in a manufacturing facility or at the job site.

Tags: Robotics, Labor Automation

GENESIS DIMENSIONS

Both a green building materials company and a robotics company under one roof, Genesis Dimensions is automating the production of both decorative and structural building components using a combination of additive and subtractive manufacturing techniques coupled with their own proprietary eco-friendly foam material.

AIROBOTICS

A fully automated end-to-end drone solution that goes far beyond standard drone options. It's self deploying, self landing, self charging operation allows for on-demand or on-schedule continuous utilization to answer the needs of industries such as energy, mining and oil & gas by providing a safe, cost-effective solution available on-site and on-demand.

Tags: Drones, Photogrammetry, Aerial Data Capture, Data Insights

HYPERLOOP ONE

Hyperloop One shot down disbelievers earlier this month when it announced the first successful test of a "full hyperloop" earlier in May of this year. As this video demonstrates, Hyperloop One engineers propelled a maglev test sled up to 70mph through a full-scale tube in near-vacuum.

Tags: Infrastructure, Transit, Transportation

THE BORING COMPANY

Elon Musk's response to traffic congestion is tunneling. His ambitious claims of developing higher speed, lower cost (by a factor of 10 or more) tunnel boring machines might seem like pipe dreams, but leaked photos of his prototype TBM and tweets about progress suggest the dreams are possible.