# 89. The Flying 3D Printers

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2022-09-27
- Length: 27m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-09-27-89-the-flying-3d-printers
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/89-the-flying-3d-printers-PlfrdrNO

## Summary

Daniel and Forbode discuss research from the Technical University of Munich on using swarms of drones to 3D print concrete structures, inspired by the collective behavior of bees. They analyze the system's use of scanning and printing drones, a novel cementitious resin material, and self-correcting nozzles to achieve millimeter precision. The hosts critique the technology's scalability, highlighting significant challenges with wind stability, battery life, and material weight, while suggesting tethered power or hybrid ground-air robots as potential solutions for maintenance tasks like wind turbine repair.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-09-27-89-the-flying-3d-printers#t=0) Introduction: The Next Byte Podcast and Episode 89
- [1:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-09-27-89-the-flying-3d-printers#t=88) TUM's Flying 3D Printers: Drones for Remote Construction
- [4:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-09-27-89-the-flying-3d-printers#t=254) Swarm Architecture: Scanning and Printing Drone Roles
- [7:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-09-27-89-the-flying-3d-printers#t=462) Precision Engineering: Self-Correcting Nozzles and Materials
- [11:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-09-27-89-the-flying-3d-printers#t=666) Biomimicry: Bio-inspired Engineering from Bees and Wasps
- [15:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-09-27-89-the-flying-3d-printers#t=950) Environmental Challenges: Wind Stability and Flight Limits
- [19:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-09-27-89-the-flying-3d-printers#t=1154) Energy and Logistics: Battery Life, Material Weight, and Tethers
- [22:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-09-27-89-the-flying-3d-printers#t=1335) Future Applications: Wind Turbine Maintenance and Hybrid Robots
- [26:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-09-27-89-the-flying-3d-printers#t=1562) Conclusion: Swarm Agency and Episode Wrap-up

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Technical University of Munich (company)
- Wevolver (other)
- Mind Sweeping (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode Thirty-Six: Ignazio Maria Viola](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-02-10-episode-thirty-six-ignazio-maria-viola) (Robot Talk)
- [Ep 130: Upside Down 3D-Printer, Biplane Quadcopter, Gutting a Calculator Watch, and GitHub CoPilot](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-08-06-ep-130-upside-down-3d-printer-biplane-quadcopter-gutting-a-calculator-watch-and) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Episode 104: Robot swarms inspired by nature - Kirstin Petersen](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-01-10-episode-104-robot-swarms-inspired-by-nature-kirstin-petersen) (Robot Talk)
- [Ep 181: 3D Printing with Volcano Nuts, The Hackaday Bookshelf, and a Puzzlebot](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2022-08-12-ep-181-3d-printing-with-volcano-nuts-the-hackaday-bookshelf-and-a-puzzlebot) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Episode Thirty-Four: Sabine Hauert](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-01-27-episode-thirty-four-sabine-hauert) (Robot Talk)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-09-27-89-the-flying-3d-printers. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Next Byte Podcast.