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Robots Built a House That Generates More Energy Than It Needs (dwell.com)

MikeChino writes: The world's first home designed, planned, and built with mainly digital processes just opened its doors in Switzerland. Developed by eight ETH Zurich professors, DFAB House is a pilot project showcasing futuristic building technologies that may someday work their way into our homes. It's topped with a solar array that generates, on average, 1.5 times more energy than the unit needs (an intelligent control system eliminates the risk of load peaks), [and there are waste heat recovery systems to recycle heat from shower trays back into the boiler.] Some of the pioneering ETH-developed construction processes include: "Mesh Mould technology, in which an autonomous 'In Situ Fabricator' robot builds a 3D mesh formwork for concrete load-bearing walls; Smart Slab, a lightweight concrete slab with 3D-printed sand formwork that's less than half the weight of a conventional concrete slab; Smart Dynamic Casting, an automatic robotic slip-forming process; and Spatial Timber Assemblies, a digital prefabrication process that uses a dual robot system to create timber frame modules," reports Dwell, adding that people "manually filled in formwork, bolted CNC-milled and 3D-printed pieces into place, and tweaked the digital design process."

2 of 45 comments (clear)

  1. Bitcoin by PopeRatzo · · Score: 4, Funny

    So, could I use the excess energy the house generates to mine cryptocurrency so it will pay for itself?

    To be honest, I get the feeling it might be exhausting to live in a house that's working harder than I am.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
    1. Re:Bitcoin by bobstreo · · Score: 4, Insightful

      So, could I use the excess energy the house generates to mine cryptocurrency so it will pay for itself?

      To be honest, I get the feeling it might be exhausting to live in a house that's working harder than I am.

      It would probably be more cost effective to create a grow room for umm "hydroponic vegetables" or something, depending on the local laws regarding growing things which can vary by county and state.