The shelter is one of man's basic needs. This fact has driven many experts to continuously search for various ways of providing humanity with the said essential need.
MuDD architects, a Spanish firm, has recently demonstrated a new concept in building homes. During a recent design show in Milan, Italy, the firm has demonstrated the use of a drone in building a shelter.
The team used bamboo to create the frame of the dwelling. Later, they use drones to lift the fabric that will cover up the whole frame which will be hauled into its final position by a team on the ground. The team would then use the drone to spray a mixture of clay, sad, and rice husk over the cover which gives the shelter a stronger and more solid construction. This is the same concept as applying shotcrete. The team will then use the drone as a drying machine where it will blow air through the hose, giving the structure stability and flexibility at the same time.
This type of dwelling is perfect for locations with strong winds and the high occurrence of earthquakes.
MuDD Architects worked in collaboration with RCTakeoff, a drone firm, and Euromair, a spraying specialist. Currently, the hose-equipped quadcopter is being controlled by a professional. MuDD is hoping that in the future they would be able to fly the quadcopter remotely. The vision is for the drones to be able to perform its house-building tasks autonomously.
This innovation in building a home with the use of drone equipment for multiple roles is a step towards keeping the disaster relief team to a minimum. This would aid in keeping costs down while providing the shelter needed for the rescue. This method of construction would also reduce the amount of equipment needed to be transported, especially to areas where the terrain is challenging. There would also be lowered costs for materials as it would be possible for the building materials to be sourced locally.
Aerones, a drone company based in Latvia, has also been testing hose-equipped drones in various attempts to clean wind turbines and windows on high-rise buildings. The company featured a 12-rotor drone which was built for the purpose of cleaning as it has hoses and sponges. The said purpose-built drone could clean 20 times faster than traditional human-powered methods. The company pointed out that this method of cleaning equipment also offers a greater level of safety. The company is currently developing a similar system that could aid in firefighting.
While MuDD's construction method is still under development, the company is optimistic about their project's potential in assisting humanitarian efforts on a global scale.
