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US power tool manufacturer DEWALT has introduced a downward-drilling robot designed to automate one of the most labor-intensive steps in data center construction. A breakthrough in construction robotics could fundamentally reshape how data center are built.
Engineers have unveiled an autonomous drilling robot capable of digging foundations and structural piles up to ten times faster than human crews, a leap that could dramatically compress construction timelines for digital infrastructure worldwide.
Developed through an academic–industry collaboration and recently demonstrated in Europe, the system merges advanced machine perception, autonomous motion planning, and heavy-duty drilling hardware into a single platform designed to replace some of the slowest and most labor-intensive phases of construction.
The robot can operate continuously with minimal human oversight while maintaining high precision and safety, even in harsh jobsite conditions.
Before servers, cooling systems, or networking equipment can be installed, data centers require extensive groundwork. Foundations must be drilled with extreme precision to support massive structural loads, while trenches and conduits must be laid for power, cooling, and fiber connectivity. Traditionally, this phase relies on teams of drill operators, surveyors, and heavy machinery specialists working in shifts, often slowed by weather, soil variability, and safety constraints.
As AI computing and cloud services expand rapidly, demand for new data center capacity is accelerating. Industry analysts estimate that hyperscale data center capacity may need to double within the next five years to support AI training and inference workloads. Autonomous drilling systems could shrink months of preparatory work into weeks, speeding up deployment of facilities that now underpin everything from generative AI to edge computing.
In practice, the DEWALT robot integrates LiDAR sensing, GPS-based mapping, and real-time terrain analysis to dynamically adjust drilling depth, speed, and force based on soil conditions. Its control system continuously monitors vibration, resistance, and alignment, enabling high accuracy with little to no remote supervision.
When put to the test on real construction sites, the autonomous drilling robot showed off some impressive skills that would be hard for traditional crews to keep up with. It worked at speeds up to ten times faster than the usual methods, consistently delivering high-precision results on a large scale.
Several technical innovations underpin the robot’s performance:
- Autonomous navigation: It maps jobsites independently, plans drilling paths, avoids obstacles, and optimizes routes for speed and efficiency.
- AI-driven adaptation: Machine learning models infer soil composition and automatically tune drilling parameters in real time.
- Continuous operation: Without fatigue limits, the robot can work 24/7, a major advantage over human crews constrained by safety regulations.
- Remote oversight: Multiple units can be monitored by engineers from a centralized control center, reducing onsite staffing requirements.
Several infrastructure firms and data center developers are already piloting autonomous construction technologies. In Europe, operators have announced partnerships with robotics companies to streamline site preparation across multiple regions, while in North America, industry bodies are working to establish safety and regulatory standards for autonomous construction equipment.
Integrating the robot into construction workflows really enhances DEWALT’s current data center toolkit. This toolkit already features technologies aimed at minimizing vibration and dust while boosting operator control, along with its ICC anchoring solutions. When combined, these tools offer a more efficient, accurate, and safer way to tackle the repetitive and high-volume tasks that are typical in large-scale data center projects.
DPR Construction, the biggest data center contractor in the U.S., is set to focus on testing and validating this drilling robot in 2026, as shared by Tyler Williams, the company’s leader in field and robotic innovation. He says the technology has “real potential to reduce ergonomic strain on craft teams, boost productivity, and generally make the onsite experience better for people.”
“Ultimately, everything we’re doing here is about supporting our customers, many of whom are focused on speed to market,” Williams says. “These kinds of methods are changing how projects get built and helping customers see returns on their capital investments sooner.”
Drilling and piling are among the most hazardous construction tasks, with risks ranging from falling debris to equipment rollovers and repetitive strain injuries. Removing workers from these frontline activities could significantly reduce accident rates and regulatory violations, albeit labor humanitarian rights activists’ concerns.
