Could This Robot Build A House In A Day?

California Engineer's Invention Could Roll Out Concrete Homes Starting This Year

(CBS)  Should he succeed, the "very conservative construction industry," as he puts it, might not welcome replacing workers with robots. And it is unclear whether the concrete-and-gypsum structures will be able to abide by federal or local building codes. Due to codes, the structure set to be built in Marina Del Rey is not for inhabitation.

"There are a lot of things to do yet — this probably has a long battle ahead of it," Boss says. "There is a lot of testing to do."

Khoshnevis, an energetic interview subject, grows weary when talk of timelines before seeing a full-scale building is introduced. Epstein says that's to be expected from an entrepreneur.

"If he's frustrated, that's par for the course," he said. "That's the part of new business activities. From his standpoint, for someone that's a builder and developer, you just have optimistic."

With a sigh, Khoshnevis acknowledges seeing a finished product will take time.

"We're going to start with ground-level and up. We cannot do everything at the same time," he said. "First flight was only 12 seconds. Today you can fly for 16 hours to get from LA to Japan."

Some other engineers and scholars are optimistic at the prospect of introducing more robotics to the construction industry.

"I think he can do it and I think he will do it. What I'm particularly excited about it is that this technology can be used for lots of different materials and lots of types of buildings," says Brian A. Alenskis, an associate professor of mechanical engineering technology at Purdue University. "It can make things more efficient on other scales."

Thinking on the standard scale of U.S. homes is difficult, because Contour Crafting is still in its youth. But Khoshnevis says it could greatly reduce the cost of constructing a new home — perhaps by two-thirds. And considering that the median cost of buying a home in California is hovering near $550,000, that's a lot of cost to be saved.

"Basically, it would be a fraction of what a cost would be from the cost of going out and stick-building them," says Daniel Epstein, chairman and CEO of the ConAm group of real-estate companies. "In a lot of places there isn't available lumber – they currently build with mud or forms of earth."

Some of Khoshnevis's associates are thinking outside of the United States for the future of Contour Crafting. And perhaps Khoshnevis's earthquake-spurred idea could come full-circle and alter the disaster-recovery process for certain communities, in or outside the United States.

"This is natural for low-cost housing," Epstein says. "Or can you imagine in a place that had an earthquake that leveled the countryside? You could set up there and grind these out – a block long at once."

[sajad_kafashi]

i'm really prod D.r khoshnevis as an iranian.he is a symbol of iranian tallent such as other iranian ingenious.he is a big man . i know that he can do anything he want.
i'm really love him because he is my townsman
goodluck D.r behrokh
we never forget you.........

[freehartz]

We already overpopulate the world, and invade every nook'n'cranny - this will make that a whole lot worse!

[paymane-2009]

He is Iranian. I know because I am too.

A lot of things ought to be done by machines.

In the near future, cities will be built, managed and operated by machines either with little remote human intervention.

Khoshnevis is leading the way. Hopefully one day he will be able to go back to Iran and contribute to developing the new Iran.

[kofiananimus]

Concrete is good in compression, but sucks in tension (including tension induced by bending). Does the machine also place the steel reinforcing bars required to deal with tension (and concrete shrinkage)? Does the machine place the concrete fast enough for it to be considered a monolithic pour, or are the layers more like individual concrete masonry layers that have to be bonded together? Does the concrete have an extremely low slump, or is formwork required to keep it in the desired place until is has cured enough?

[canaima]

If a robot can make an acceptable, durable (and concrete's pretty darned durable) single-family dwelling in ONE day, or even two, no Mexican nor any other nationality will be able to build a house cheaper unless they work for free.

[consciousnes]

Maybe the quality of the construction will go up and be maintained on a decent level.

[random_radar]

This reminds me of the story of John Henry and the steam drill. In this case is it Mexican labor versus house building robots. John Henry lost the first battle, but the Mexicans may still win this time. You don't have to be better, just cheaper.

[alphaa10-2009]

This is a remarkable story of progress on a persistent problem of mankind-- how to create simple, safe, habitable structures at cost low enough to make decent dwellings a reality for even people in the third world.

Consider that al Qaeda thrives on human privations and misery, and we at once understand it is far more cost effective to invest in technology such as this, rather than building ever-more-expensive war machines. This was the original premise of the Peace Corps, which alone of all US aid programs retains the highest level of gratitude and recognition where it was active.

Imagine airlifting dozens of such machines to Pakistan to rebuild safe, durable housing from the mud and rubble of the quake itself. Rather than read reports of refugees slowly freezing to death for lack of safe shelter, America could make a permanent, positive difference in their lives which would go far to restore our prestige where our vital interests are at stake.

[joehawkinson]

I think he is Iranian though :)

"those dumb ragheads , what can they give to humanity?" Official White House Souse


sarcasm off

[mitywhity]

Thank God it is an American!

[anopinion1]

put me down for one