Background
Brickworks is Australia's largest brickmaker and concrete products manufacturer with operations both in Australia and United States. They are continuously looking for innovations to improve both processes and plant efficiencies while improving their environmental sustainability and reducing their carbon footprint.
Challenge
Brickworks are seeking a customised aerial drone capable of lifting and carrying a 5 kg concrete or, ceramic tile with programming to follow a roof design and lay most or all roof tiles for a complete tile roof for detached house construction.
The residential construction industry currently faces significant challenges in cost and availability of skilled labour for installation of concrete and ceramic roof tile products. Recent advances in technical capabilities for aerial drones presents an opportunity for development of a cost effective, automated roof tile laying to address the current bottlenecks in construction. Brickworks are currently seeking an effective and reliable aerial drone that can follow a program to lift and carry a 5kg roof tile from a pallet and place at specific coordinates on a roof with accuracy to +/-1.0mm.
Tiles are manufactured to a size accuracy of +\- 1.0mm and will typically be stacked on pallets from which a drone must pull and carry tiles to a pre-programmed designated position on the roof. Each roof will present minor variations due to design and placement of cross-beams making up the frame on which tiles are to be laid. A typical roof will require approximately 2,000 tiles to be installed.
Successful applicants must demonstrate capability in drone performance, programming and design indicating performance levels equivalent to those required for this specific application. The project will involve adapting and customising a commercially available aerial drone with proven capabilities. The use of one or multiple drones is acceptable.
Key performance metrics to consider include...
- Availability and proven performance of current aerial drone prototype
- Purchase price and upkeep costs of the drone or multiple drones required per roof installation
- Time required to lay a typical roof with 2,000 tiles
- Range of weather conditions under which drones can suitably operate
- Repeatability and reliability of tile placement
What's in it for you?
A successful collaboration could mean, for individuals, becoming part of the wider Brickworks group, while for organisations, forming a potential partnership with one of the world’s most iconic brands to co-develop and co-launch the idea to market.
This is a global challenge and Brickworks are willing to collaborate with both individuals/freelancers and other industry participants/universities etc. and solutions can be at any stage of development.
If you have or are developing solutions, or if you have expertise in the above, please click "Apply" to submit your solution/expertise to the Network.