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Fastbrick Robotics

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

FBR Ltd
Company typePublic
ASX:FBR
IndustryRobotics
Headquarters
Perth
,
Australia
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Mike Pivac (CEO), Mark Pivac (CTO), Mark Sheridan (COO)
Websitehttp://www.fbr.com.au

FBR Ltd (formerly Fastbrick Robotics Limited) (ASX:FBR)[1] is a Perth based robotics company. FBR is the creator of Hadrian X, the world's first fully automated end to end robotic bricklayer.[2] In November 2016, Fastbrick Robotics won the Western Australian Innovator of the Year Award.[3][4][5]

History

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In 1994, aeronautic and mechanical engineer Mark Pivac had the idea for a mobile dynamically stabilised robot. Between 2005 and 2008, Pivac filed patents for an 'automatic bricklaying system' and created the first Hadrian prototype using seed funding. After successfully demonstrating the build of a wall using ground mounted robots and mortar, production of Hadrian 105 (the precursor to Hadrian X) was under way.

After stalling during the financial crisis of 2007–2008, development of the Hadrian 105 resumed in 2014, amid a stronger economy and renewed interest in robotic construction. The following year, Fastbrick Robotics was listed on the ASX.

Overview

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In September 2016, the Hadrian 105 built the world's first multi room block structure from a 3D CAD model with no human intervention, providing proof of concept for what would become Hadrian X, and signed a non binding and non exclusive framework agreement, with Perth based builder Archistruct Builders & Designers.[6]

In August 2017, Fastbrick Robotics moved to a new fit for purpose facility to allow a rapid expansion of their team, and signed an agreement with Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for a potential opportunity to build 50,000 new homes with Hadrian X,[7][8][9] entered into a Memorandum of Understanding, with an initial twelve month term, with Caterpillar Inc, which agreed to invest $2 million into the technology.[10][11][12] and raised $35 million through a share placement.[13][14]

In June 2018, the mechanical assembly of the first Hadrian X construction robot was completed.[15] FBR signed a strategic collaboration with GP Vivienda to discuss a pilot programme for the Hadrian X in Mexico.[16] In August 2018, Dynamic Stabilisation Technology testing on the layhead of the Hadrian X was completed.[17] In September 2018, FBR signed a global partnership agreement with Wienerberger AG to develop, manufacture and test clay blocks optimised for Hadrian X.[18]

In November 2018, Hadrian X built a three bedroom, two bathroom home structure in under three days.[19] In February 2019, Hadrian X completed its first outdoor home structure, known as 'Build1'.[20]

Hadrian X

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Work on Hadrian X commercial bricklaying robot, began in March 2015. In May 2015, Hadrian 105 demonstrator was completed, which had the bricklaying rate of 225 bricks per hour.[21][22] Hadrian X is built from steel, aluminium and carbon fibre composite materials, and is said to have the bricklaying rate of one thousand bricks per hour.[23][24]

According to the CEO Mike Pivac, the machine will be able to build with a high degree of accuracy, decrease wasted bricks and work twenty four hours a day in most weather, without having to stop for mortar to dry, since it uses polyurethane adhesive.[25][26][27]

On 25 August 2020, Hadrian X completed the Pilot Program stage of the Building Pilot Program Agreement between FastBrick Robotics and GP Vivienda, four Mexican-style two bedroom, one-bathroom house structures were completed by the Hadrian X, according to FastBrick Robotics each house was completed in less than one standard shift on average to complete.[28]

On 1 September 2020, Hadrian X began building its first non-residential commercial structure, the structure is located south east of Perth.[29]

In 2022 FBR signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Liebherr to commercialise Hadrian X.

Recognition

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Year Award Category Result
2019 Edison Awards Robotics Won (Gold)
2018 The Urban Developer Awards Excellence in Construction Innovation Won
2017 iAwards National[30][31] Inspiration of the Year (Victorian State Government) Won
2016 Western Australia Innovator of the Year[32] Overall Winner (Mitsubishi Corporation WA Innovator of the Year) Won
2016 The Incite Awards (Supporting ICT Innovation in Western Australia)[33][34] Most Disruptive Technology Won

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Fastbrick-Robotics-debuts-on-ASX". Business News. 18 November 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  2. ^ "Business Showcase : Fastbrick Robotics – Irish Tech News". irishtechnews.ie. 20 August 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  3. ^ "Fastbrick takes out top innovation award". Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  4. ^ "Robotic bricklayer wins innovation award". The West Australian. 3 November 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  5. ^ "Western Australian Innovator of the Year Awards". Office of the Government Chief Information Officer. 4 November 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  6. ^ "FBR signs deal to build world's first 3D printed brick homes". Finfeed.com. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  7. ^ "Saudi Arabia plans to build new homes ... using robots". StepFeed. 18 August 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  8. ^ "Robots are coming to Saudi Arabia". Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  9. ^ "Fastbrick signs Saudi homebuilding deal". The West Australian. 16 August 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  10. ^ "Caterpillar Invests $2 Million in Fastbrick Robotics' Brick-Laying Variation on 3D Printing | 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing". 3dprint.com. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  11. ^ "WA team behind robot brickie gets backing from US giant". The West Australian. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  12. ^ "Caterpillar backs bricklaying robot with $2 million investment". newatlas.com. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  13. ^ "Fastbrick in $35m placement". Business News. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  14. ^ "Fastbrick raises $35m to progress bricklaying robot". The West Australian. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  15. ^ Tchetvertakov, George (7 June 2018). "Fastbrick Robotics assembles Hadrian X for quick progress towards construction revolution". Small Caps. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  16. ^ "Fastbricks partners with GP Vivienda - 9Finance". finance.nine.com.au. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  17. ^ Tchetvertakov, George (29 August 2018). "Fastbrick Robotics completes stability testing for Hadrian X construction robot". Small Caps. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  18. ^ "Wienerberger and Fastbrick Robotics explore the future of construction". wienerberger.com. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  19. ^ "Fastbrick Robotics claims world-first by building 3-bedroom house in 3 days". Australian Financial Review. 14 November 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  20. ^ Object, object (12 February 2019). "Fastbrick Robotics Completes Maiden Outdoor Home Build". The Urban Developer. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  21. ^ "Exclusive Q and A with Oliver Gray of Fastbrick Robotics - SA Real Estate News". SA Real Estate News. 10 March 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  22. ^ "Meet Hadrian 105: The Aussie Robot Making Human Bricklayers Obsolete". Lifehacker Australia. 28 July 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  23. ^ "This brick-laying robot can build a house in just two days". Business Insider. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  24. ^ "Will 'robot builder' Hadrian X bring construction industry redundancies?". Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  25. ^ "See WA's robot brickie in action". Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  26. ^ Stewart, Robb M. (19 September 2016). "The Construction Business Goes Digital". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  27. ^ PASH, Chris (28 July 2016). "ANIMATION: How this one-armed Australian robot builds a house faster than brickies". Business Insider Australia. Archived from the original on 29 July 2016.
  28. ^ "FBR completes Pilot Program with GP Vivienda" (PDF).
  29. ^ "Hadrian X® Begins First Commercial Building (Video)". FBR. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  30. ^ "Fastbrick Robotics wins national Innovation Awards in Australia - Highways Today". www.highways.today. 4 September 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  31. ^ Pash, Chris (31 August 2017). "Australia's one-armed robot bricklayer and an all-terrain electric skateboard have both just won an iAward". Business Insider Australia. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  32. ^ "2016 winners and finalists". www.jtsi.wa.gov.au. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  33. ^ "Western Australia's WAITTA Incite Awards Winners 2017 Announced". Business Innovation Magazine. 17 June 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  34. ^ "WAITTA INCITE Awards | Hall of Fame". www.inciteawards.org.au. Retrieved 6 October 2017.