DARPA wants robots to 3D print concrete underwater to build and repair ports
The Pentagon's research arm wants autonomous systems to 3D print concrete underwater using seawater and seafloor sediment to repair infrastructure.
DARPA, the US military's research arm, is exploring the possibility of 3D printing concrete underwater to construct and maintain ports and other maritime infrastructure. The agency aims to develop an autonomous system capable of repairing seawalls, cables, and other underwater structures using seafloor sediment and seawater.
DARPA is reaching out to civilian industry and academia for assistance in overcoming the limitations of existing underwater construction methods, which are often slow, costly, and environmentally damaging. The military sees underwater construction as a potential advantage in contested logistics, as it could provide a quicker and more cost-effective solution for repairing and building critical port facilities.
Current underwater construction techniques are not ideal for military operations, as they are often cumbersome and inefficient. DARPA believes that underwater 3D printing could revolutionize the way maritime infrastructure is built and repaired, making it more efficient and environmentally friendly. By using advanced maritime construction equipment and a mixture of seawater and ocean sediments, the agency hopes to lay the groundwork for a fully autonomous, deepwater-capable system.
Additionally, DARPA is working on a separate program to improve the predictive capabilities of concrete infrastructure, including land-based structures like aircraft runways. This research focuses on predicting how concrete will hold up over time and how it might fail before any visible cracks appear. The goal is to develop a system that can heal itself, similar to the way human vascular systems or fungi repair damaged structures.
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