Large-Scale Automated Additive Construction: Overview, Robotic Solutions, Sustainability, and Future Prospect

Abstract

Additive manufacturing has drawn significant attention in both academia and industry due to its capabilities and promising potential in various sectors. However, the adoption of this technology in large-scale construction is still limited due to the numerous existing challenges. In this work, a comprehensive review of large-scale automated additive construction, its challenges, and emerging advances with a focus on robotic solutions and environmental sustainability is presented. The potential interrelations of the two topics are also discussed. A new classification scheme of available and emerging robotic solutions in automated additive construction is presented. Moreover, the vision of environmental sustainability is explored through three lenses: process, material, and printed large-scale structures/buildings. Finally, the current challenges and potential future directions are highlighted. The provided state of the art and challenges can be used as a guideline for future research on large-scale automated additive construction.