Human progression, over the years, can be credited to gazillion different factors, but honestly speaking, none contributed to the cause more than our ability of growing at a consistent clip. This unfaltering commitment towards getting better, no matter the situation, has brought the world some huge milestones, with technology emerging as quite a major member of the stated group. The reason why we hold technology in such a high regard is, by and large, predicated upon its skill-set, which ushered us towards a reality that nobody could have ever imagined otherwise. Nevertheless, if we look beyond the surface for one hot second, it will become clear how the whole runner was also very much inspired from the way we applied those skills across a real world environment. The latter component, in fact, did a lot to give the creation a spectrum-wide presence, and as a result, initiated a full-blown tech revolution. Of course, the next thing this revolution did was to scale up the human experience through some outright unique avenues, but even after achieving a feat so notable, technology will somehow continue to bring forth the right goods. The same has turned more and more evident in recent times, and assuming one new themed development ends up with the desired impact, it will only put that trend on a higher pedestal moving forward.

Dusty Robotics, a California based company, has officially announced the launch of a brand-new BIM-to-field solution called FledPrint Platform, which is designed to reduce construction risk by ensuring all contractors are building off the same information. According to certain reports, the stated platform comes decked up with a suite of tools that enable GC’s and trade partners to streamline their BIM-to-field workflow, something made possible through complete support for the entire process starting from the design to installation, and even beyond. Markedly enough, FledPrint Platform is actually a follow-up on Dusty’s first-generation FieldPrinter, which has printed over 91 million square feet of layout so far. But how is it any different from its predecessor? Well, the latest FieldPrint Platform introduces a suite of software and hardware functionality which has, for starters, a brand new second-generation layout robot, the FieldPrinter 2. The FieldPrinter 2 can work together to create an efficient process for the GC and trades, empowering them big time in terms of accurately and comprehensively laying out BIM models on the deck. Talk about this new layout robot on a slightly deeper level, it brings to the fore a compact form factor that ensures FieldPrinter 2 can effortlessly navigate tight spaces, while simultaneously maneuvering around obstacles to provide the most complete layout. Next up, we have the prospect of an Edge Print, which simply put, allows printing right up to edges, columns, and site features. Complimenting the same is FledPrint’s Shadow Print functionality. Here, the idea is to free up enough runway for printing behind columns so to generate more coverage in significantly less time. Interestingly enough, there is also in play a full-fledged sensor suite. This suite, on its part, would go a long distance when the agenda is to facilitate real-time detection of edges, obstacles, and other objects that may hamper the quality of printing in any capacity. However, beyond sustaining a certain baseline quality, the new FieldPrinter 2 also dedicates enormous focus towards scaling up the ceiling attached to that very quality, and it does so through features like Curve Printing, which generates smooth arcs of any radius. The same objective is further pursued with an extra-wide printhead that can print points, lines, text, and curves quickly and legibly at 300 dpi. All this shouldn’t indicate any size and weight limitations for the FieldPrinter 2, considering it weighs no more than 23 lbs (including the battery), making it extremely safe, as well as easy to move and carry. Among other features, we have the product’s promise of ensuring uninterrupted operation during battery replacement through power hold, and its pledge to simplify the learning process and streamline operation through an intuitive iPad interface.

“Construction is fundamentally a data-driven workflow that hinges on the right information being made available to the right person at the right time,” said Tessa Lau, CEO and co-founder of Dusty Robotics. “Our new FieldPrint Platform supports the seamless flow of data from the design phase, to the field, and back to the trailer. More than just a robot, Dusty provides an integrated software-hardware solution that architects, designers, and field operators utilize to get unparalleled accuracy, communication, and efficiency.”

Joining this whole value proposition are two specialized solutions in Dusty Revit Plugin and Dusty Portal. If we get into Dusty Revit Plugin, we’ll learn about its ability to eliminate errors, streamline workflows, and enhance VDC efficiency. This the solution achieves by automating most of the manual steps needed to prepare robot-ready drawings. In practice, Dusty Revit Plugin can, on its own, pack together best practices learned from key builders and thousands of projects to get the most complete and accurate information on the floor, thus saving all parties a good chunk of their time.

As for Dusty Portal, it is basically there to support all trades align their digital files in a single place and deliver a multi-trade layout. A more practical example of its function involves empowering design teams to verify that all files utilize the same coordinate system, preview the combined files prior to printing, and ensure everyone’s system is running the latest version. Furthermore, the solution also lets you have access to productivity reports for the purpose of project tracking and operator performance evaluation.

Founded in 2018, Dusty Robotics’ rise up the ladder is largely rooted in its industry-leading ability to automate construction’s most painful manual workflows. The company would, in practice, make that happen through a combination of hardware, software, and services that fit seamlessly into existing construction work processes to cause no disruption whatsoever. Dusty’s excellence in what it does can also be validated once you consider it is currently backed by some big investors, including Scale Venture Partners, Canaan Partners, NextGen Venture Partners, Baseline Ventures, Root Ventures and Cantos Ventures etc.