Lurabitat - Construcción de viviendas con impresora 3D | Lurabitat | Centro de investigación

Digital construction

Digital construction refers to the application of digital technologies throughout all phases of a construction project, from initial design to final delivery. It involves the use of multiple technological tools and software such as BIM, virtual and augmented reality, drones, various types of robots and automation, IoT sensors for data analysis and decision-making, and collaborative platforms to improve efficiency, collaboration, safety, resource management, and decision-making throughout construction and the lifecycle of a building or infrastructure.

The goal is to optimize and/or automate as many processes as possible to reduce errors and costs, improving quality and sustainability in the construction industry.

- Architectural. 3D robotic digital construction allows us to create new custom designs that fit the specific individual needs of users.
- Adaptability. To new forms and complex parametric structures and with curves or acute angles.
- Quality improvement. Produces more precise and uniform structures with higher quality materials, which reduces maintenance and repair times.
- Economic. Reduces construction costs, and therefore acquisition costs.
- Automation. It guarantees safety and construction quality.
- Energy efficiency. Homes built with robots can be more energy efficient than many homes built with traditional methods.
- Sustainability. It uses less material and generates less waste.
- Recycled Materials. We use multiple recycled materials and reinforcements, such as aggregates, fiberglass, carbon, Kevlar and glass. In addition to those used in insulation
- Reduction of the carbon footprint. Digital construction requires less transportation of materials than traditional construction methods, reducing the carbon footprint of construction.
- Access to housing. Reducing the cost of housing makes it more accessible to low-income people by reducing construction costs.
- Constant innovation. In materials and precision for greater quality of construction.
- Job Creation. Robotic construction creates new jobs in more specialized technology, research, automation, manufacturing and construction sectors with better salaries.
- Security. Digital construction is an automated process that reduces the risk of workplace accidents.
- We recycle. The mortar and water used in the machinery cleaning process.

These advantages in digital construction are transforming the construction industry, making it more efficient, sustainable and accessible.

Our development includes:

- Storage tanks and silos.
- Dosing system.
- Mixer and pumping equipment.
Manufactured to our specifications
- 32 meter robotic arm.

- 8x14x20m gantry printer.
- 3 different print heads.
- Electronic design, automation and sensorization.
- Electrical and electronic panels.

- The hydraulic system for the robotic arm.
- Security software.
- The operating system and Firmware.
- Automation and control software.
- Purification and recycling of water used in cleaning.
- Machine for recycling mortar.

Our digital construction system

We develop and manufacture 3D digital construction systems. Gantry 3D printer and robotic arm.

Our technological developments combine a complete automated system for the construction of homes and other elements, using specialized mortars that have more resistance than concrete itself. We can also work with other types of materials such as FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling Technology) thanks to the different interchangeable print heads.

We innovate in construction

We revolutionize a technologically stagnant sector through the implementation of new equipment and advanced robotic processes for 3D digital construction, as well as the development of our own materials for robotic digital construction.

The construction industry needs a radical change:
Productivity has stagnated for decades, materials and resources are needed in large quantities but not used efficiently enough.

Construction accounts for approximately 9 percent of global Co2 emissions. To reduce emissions, materials must be recycled more effectively in the future and construction levels must be thought about holistically. This is where our technology center comes in, developing the equipment and all the technology necessary for the use of additive manufacturing in construction. In this way we can automate the use of equipment, procedures, materials and resources for construction, including structural construction. Our research goes to the core of sustainability thinking, efficient in the use of resources, effective and sustainable, meeting the objectives of sustainable development.

3D printing and automated additive manufacturing (FAA) connects significant robotic equipment, designs, architecture, materials and manufacturing processes across the construction industry, expanding digitalization from design to fully finished structure in a new way . This basic research is generating opportunities that address personnel and skills shortages, making our visions of sustainable, faster, higher quality, and more economical construction a reality.

All this effort is reinventing through basic research and development on robotics and additive manufacturing, and it is a crucial task because it is about future generations and setting the course of our medium-term viability with new and better equipment, Combinations of materials and processes.

Materials and procedures for the benefit of the entire society:
As a central theme of our research program, the coordination of materials and processes are considered inseparable in additive manufacturing. We investigate to reach a new logic for innovative combinations of materials and processes for additive manufacturing, since all projects follow an innovative, integrative and novel approach, investigating the structural design, the behavior of the materials, and the manufacturing processes. as individual but inseparable components within an interdisciplinary framework, along with combinations of multiple materials and processes so as not to limit them in any way.

We aim to ensure robustness and full robotic automation of additive manufacturing processes by providing feedback and simulation capabilities.

Perfect digitalization in the construction industry.

End-to-end digitalization is of crucial importance for the successful introduction of additive manufacturing in the construction industry. Therefore, we investigated digital interfaces with the initial and subsequent planning processes of robotic construction from the beginning. The interaction between digital models and physical objects forms the methodological link of Lurabitat, it is the basis for the networking between the areas of all projects. This connection is made through the continuous production of real in-house and third-party demonstrators, digital models and twins, aiming to make an important contribution to the digitalization of the construction industry.

Additive manufacturing in construction (FAC)

Needs in the construction industry

- Introduction of new technologies.
- Improvement of quality, construction and materials.
- Reduction of times, costs and prices.
- Solve the lack of workers.
- Increase worker safety.
- Neutral carbon footprint.
- Do not generate waste.
- Reduce the use of cement.
- Use natural materials.