Australian robotics and 3D printing company Luyten has introduced the world's first robotic tower crane-based crane platform, "Ascend," which integrates tower crane structures, robotics, large-scale 3D concrete printing technology, AI, and digital construction workflows to build concrete structures up to 100 meters tall. Designed to address issues such as labor shortages, growing housing demand, production efficiency pressures, and material waste in the construction industry, "Ascend" features a working radius of 45 meters and a maximum support structure height of 100 meters, with installation and commissioning taking just one to two days. It relies on AI to generate printing paths, optimize construction processes, and monitor progress in real time, while also integrating Luyten's digital construction ecosystem and Ultimatecrete printable concrete material specifically designed for large-scale additive manufacturing. By transforming traditional tower cranes into robotic manufacturing systems, the platform reduces reliance on manual labor, decreases the need for formwork, improves material utilization, and leverages industry-familiar equipment to advance automation and accelerate technology adoption.
