Australian Robot Spider Could 3D Print a House in a Day

Crest Robotics, in partnership with Earthbuilt Technology, has unveiled a six-legged robot named Charlotte that could transform both housing on Earth and future construction in space. The spider-like machine is essentially a mobile 3D printer, designed to build a full 200 square meter home in just one day.

At its core, Charlotte uses a process called automated earthbagging, which combines locally sourced clay, sand, and aggregate into compacted layers that form structural walls. Unlike traditional concrete, the material cures within 72 hours and hardens to a sandstone-like consistency, making it both strong and fast to set. “We intend to build the walls of the house within a day,” said Dr. Claude Webster, founding director of Crest Robotics. “This technology removes the heavy labor from earth bagging and makes it possible to move really quickly and safely.”

Dr. Webster also emphasized the human benefits of automation in construction. He noted that traditional earth bagging is extremely labor-intensive and often unsafe. By using robotic assistance, Crest Robotics hopes to create safer conditions for workers while at the same time speeding up productivity. “We’ve got more work than we could possibly do,” he said, pointing to Australia’s housing crisis. “As we bring these technologies to market, we can actually increase accessibility of these jobs to the broader community while protecting people from the most dangerous work.”