Dusty Robotics AutoCAD plug-in helps optimise automated layout for construction crews
Dusty Robotics has released an AutoCAD plug-in designed to streamline the process of preparing data for its robots, which autonomously lay out drawings on construction site floors.
The plug-in, which works with the company’s FieldPrint Platform, extracts layout information directly from coordinated multi-trade CAD drawings. According to the company, it incorporates best practices from thousands of construction projects and automatically organises drawing elements to optimise printing efficiency for all interior trades.
Construction teams can print layouts for multiple trades simultaneously, including edge printing, shadow printing behind obstacles, and curve printing.
“Design software integration is an integral part of our vision of delivering field intelligence to building crews,” said Tessa Lau, CEO and co-founder of Dusty Robotics. “Our AutoCAD plugin removes friction between design and field teams by translating the digital design directly into the information field crews see on the jobsite floor.
“This integration is a core part of our plan to orchestrate the work done on construction sites, delivering perfect outcomes by directing the work of every person, machine, and robot on site.”
The AutoCAD integration expands Dusty’s existing design tool compatibility, which already includes an Autodesk Revit integration and the cloud-based Dusty Portal for multi-trade collaboration.
“As construction projects continue to experience skilled labor shortages, finding ways to improve field work productivity can have a significant impact,” said James Cook, director of industry & technology partnerships at Autodesk.
“The integration between AutoCAD and Dusty Robotics creates an elegant workflow that connects design to construction and automates a previously tedious and error-prone process.”
The Dusty Robotics AutoCAD plugin is available now through the Autodesk App Store and integrates with the company’s FieldPrint Platform, including the FieldPrinter 2 robot.
