Bric-a-Brick: Toward a Reframing of Clay-Block Wall Construction

Abstract

The Bric-a-Brick project aims to transform the role of the bricklayer by focusing on ergonomics and human–machine collaboration. By merging human expertise with robotics, the authors of this paper present a cost-effective prototype that aims to reduce the safety risks associated with some of the work performed by regular bricklayers and to lower the future incidence of musculoskeletal disorders commonly associated with the profession. The Bric-a-Brick project aims to reach, by 31 December 2026, Technology Readiness Level 9 (TRL 9): full technological maturity for implementation in real-world environments. To achieve this goal, Bric-a-Brick was developed as a promising intermediate validation activity. While the current system is still under development and much is yet to be achieved, initial results demonstrate strong potential. Further refinement is expected to enhance its reliability and effectiveness.