At least three drones are connected to a building component. They not only have the power to lift it, but also to rotate it in any direction. This allows the component to be positioned and — according to the research approach — one day even fastened without human intervention, with the help of another drone. The research project Heterogeneous Aerial Robot Teams for In-Situ Prefabricated Building Assembly, or HARPA for short, is exploring the future of construction, in which aerial robots will play a key role. 

TUM Researches Design and Strategies for Suitable Assembly 

Under the leadership of the Dutch university Delft University of Technology, which developed the transport concept using aerial robots, Professor Dörfler at TUM is responsible, among other things, for developing suitable designs for drone-assisted assembly as well as intelligent and, above all, feasible strategies for the placement and fastening of building components. Former TUM professor Stefan Leutenegger from ETH Zurich is ensuring that the drones can precisely perceive both the environment and the components to be installed. The researchers are supported by Flying Basket, an Italian medium-sized company specializing in aerial robots capable of transporting objects weighing up to 100 kilograms. 

The European Innovation Council, which is responsible for funding deep-tech innovations within the EU, is supporting the project with four million euros as part of the EIC Pathfinder Challenges program. The project duration is four years, with work set to begin in October 2026. 

Text: Andreas Schmitz