Entire houses can be built from clay or excavated earth. The material is cheap, abundant, and sustainable as it does not require cement. However, existing building methods are very labour-intensive, slow and therefore expensive.
researchers have now developed a fast robotic printing process for earth-based materials that does not require cement. In what is known as "impact printing", a robot shoots material from above, gradually building a wall. On impact, the parts bond together, and very minimal additives are required. Unlike concrete 3D printing, the process does not require any pauses during which the material can solidify. A mixture of excavated materials, silt, and clay is currently used.
