无人机技术最近爆炸了，随着业余爱好者为Google和Amazon等商业增长和技术巨头推动了无人机研究的大量资金 - 特别是它们与人工智能的融合。
亚马逊的包裹交付研究目前正在成为头条新闻，但我相信可以探索和测试无人机技术的最佳地点之一就是建筑工地。
建筑工地是无人机的理想测试场
Sites are typically compact, away from the public and filled with constant risks. This represents the perfect testing ground and a great opportunity for a contractor/ design team that wishes to be at the forefront of technological research.
Without a doubt, the use of drones in construction will spread – good clients are always looking for value through the application of technology. After a few high profile successes, clients will begin to ask for their conceptual design reports to include studies related to the possible value of drone applications.
无人机可以在建筑工地上立即使用实际应用：定位工具和固定装置一夜之间，工人需要它们。在某些情况下，专家承包商已经使用它们来进行复杂的现场调查。
Furthermore, the scope of drone related operations could be expanded further in an industry that truly embraces fabrication, as the machines excel at completing modular repetitive tasks.
Research
Certain academic institutions (the Architectural Association’s Design Research Laboratory, The University of Bath, University College London & Imperial College) have already begun researching far more ambitious drone construction techniques.
The main theme behind this research is linked to their autonomous capabilities. The research typically explores how drones could be remote controlled to build structures in inaccessible places, quickly and safely - which could be hugely helpful in areas cut off by natural disasters.
This research typically theorises multiple drones working together, carrying material and laying them out in a specific pattern, requiring the drones to have advanced levels of communication and risk awareness, operating as a coordinated swarm.
Adapt to embrace change
This is obviously still a long way from reality. However, as the physical hardware becomes better and the integration of artificial intelligence becomes realistic, drones will change the way we design and construct.
该行业必须学会适应：随着技术取代传统工作，我们必须投资现有工人，将他们作为无人机操作员，程序员和安全经理进行重新训练。
We must embrace the technology as its own specialism, perhaps even forming drone consultancies to be brought in on particular projects; and we must recognise the contribution drones could make to safety, eliminating the need for people to work at height and in other hazardous situations.
Drones will play a fascinating role evolving engineering and other professions – the really exciting thing is that we are only beginning to realise the possibilities.
Watchvideo of drones stacking bricks.