Built Robotics, a pioneering robotics startup, has been granted A$1.3 million to develop and pilot Autonomous piling robots for utility-scale solar farms in Australia. This project is set to revolutionise Australia’s construction industry by increasing efficiency, safety, and productivity in solar farm construction.
Project Overview
The project is unique in Australia because it seeks to mechanise the process of pile driving, which is usually time-consuming when setting up utility-scale solar farms. Through piloting first and second-generation prototype robots, Built Robotics estimates that this can save 82% of piling time and 88% in labor costs. It will significantly improve installation efficiency and safety.
The Solar ScaleUp Challenge
Built Robotics’ solution aligns with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) ‘s A$100 million Solar ScaleUp Challenge, which aims to boost startup cooperation in Australia in renewable energy. The Challenge seeks to increase the implementation rate of large-scale solar projects by using technologies, including robotics, automation, advanced technology, and artificial intelligence (AI).
Advantages of the Autonomous Piling Robots
Built Robotics’ autonomous piling robots, the RPD 35 and RPS 25, offer numerous benefits, including:
- Improved safety by reducing strain and hazards for human workers
- Decreased cost of labor by minimising the requirement for manual labor
- Time effectiveness, with a two-person crew cable, had been driving more than 300 piles per day
- Advanced sensors that allow pile installation to be within an inch of the planned position
Technical Specifications
The RPD 35 robotic pile driver features:
- RTK GPS for precise placement of piles
- Self-sufficient in the surveying of the site, distribution of piles, driving, and inspection of piles
- Capability to install pile with a maximum of 19 feet in length
The RPS 25 robotic pile driver features:
- Advanced sensors for monitoring real-time operations and quality control
- Self-sustainability at the lowest level of human interaction possible
- Interfacing with other current construction equipment and applications
Fast Tracking the Solar Energy Transition
The future of the solar energy transition is in the RPD 35 and RPS 25 robots, which can be used to construct solar farms. Leveraging the rising solar market, promoting automation, and using technology such as built robotics can help respond to this need and the objectives of climate change.
Industry Impact
The adoption of autonomous piling robots has far-reaching implications for the construction industry:
- Increased productivity and efficiency
- Increased safety and, therefore, lower rates of compensation for employees’ injuries and illnesses
- Such changes made it easy to achieve better accuracy and quality in the production process.
- The rapid increase in the installation of renewable power capacity
Conclusion
As solar construction is quite challenging and can be dangerous for workers, Built Robotics, with its autonomous piling robots, presents one of the most powerful tools to improve the efficiency and productivity of solar construction and to proceed with the renewable energy transition required for the further development of sustainable technologies. The above ideas make Built Robotics position itself well to transform construction and drive solar energy port with the assistance of ARENA’s Solar ScaleUp Challenge.
About Built Robotics
A San Francisco-based robotics company focused on creating new technologies for construction equipment. It aims to drive automation and artificial intelligence and enhance production, safety, and efficiency in construction sites.
About ARENA
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency, also known as ARENA, is a government-backed agency that promotes the use of renewable energy in the country. The Solar ScaleUp Challenge and similar programs enable ARENA to support new programs and technologies for integrating renewable energy.