Civil Rights
Movements, leaders, victories and the continuing fight for equality.
q2K BHP
Black History Portal
THE BHP WIRE —
HIDDEN TRUTHS
What's New!
Explore the people, places, events, achievements, struggles and stories that shaped our journey.
Movements, leaders, victories and the continuing fight for equality.
Innovation, patents, science, technology and world-changing contributions.
Pioneers, champions, Negro Leagues, records, activism and excellence.
Meet the people whose lives, choices and achievements shaped the journey.
Black towns, communities, institutions and places where history happened.
Moments that changed communities, movements, institutions and the nation.
Katherine Johnson’s mathematical calculations helped guide some of America’s most important early space missions while she confronted the racial and gender barriers faced by Black women in twentieth-century America.
MORE →Reflects the personal views, recollections, and perspective of the author, Mike Davis.
This is a personal recollection on the Move fire on May 13, 1985
| FBR Ltd | |
|---|---|
 Logo of FBR Ltd | |
| Type | Public |
| ASX:FBR | |
| Industry | Robotics |
| Headquarters | Perth , Australia |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Key people | Mike Pivac (CEO), Mark Pivac (CTO), Mark Sheridan (COO) |
| Website | http://www.fbr.com.au |
FBR Ltd (formerly Fastbrick Robotics Limited) (ASX:FBR)[1] is a Perth-based robotics company. FBR is the creator of Hadrian X, the world's first fully automated end to end robotic bricklayer.[2] In November 2016, Fastbrick Robotics won the Western Australian Innovator of the Year Award.[3][4][5]
In 1994, aeronautic and mechanical engineer Mark Pivac had the idea for a mobile dynamically stabilised robot. Between 2005 and 2008, Pivac filed patents for an 'automatic bricklaying system' and created the first Hadrian prototype using seed funding. After successfully demonstrating the build of a wall using ground mounted robots and mortar, production of Hadrian 105 (the precursor to Hadrian X) was under way.
After stalling during the 2008 financial crisis, development of the Hadrian 105 resumed in 2014, amid a stronger economy and renewed interest in robotic construction. The following year, Fastbrick Robotics was listed on the ASX.
In September 2016, the Hadrian 105 built the world's first multi room block structure from a 3D CAD model with no human intervention, providing proof of concept for what would become Hadrian X, and signed a non binding and non exclusive framework agreement, with Perth-based builder Archistruct Builders & Designers.[6]
In August 2017, Fastbrick Robotics moved to a new fit for purpose facility to allow a rapid expansion of their team, and signed an agreement with Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for a potential opportunity to build 50,000 new homes with Hadrian X,[7][8][9] entered into a Memorandum of Understanding, with an initial twelve-month term, with Caterpillar Inc, which agreed to invest $2 million into the technology.[10][11][12] and raised $35 million through a share placement.[13][14]
In June 2018, the mechanical assembly of the first Hadrian X construction robot was completed.[15] FBR signed a strategic collaboration with GP Vivienda to discuss a pilot programme for the Hadrian X in Mexico.[16] In August 2018, Dynamic Stabilisation Technology testing on the layhead of the Hadrian X was completed.[17] In September 2018, FBR signed a global partnership agreement with Wienerberger AG to develop, manufacture and test clay blocks optimised for Hadrian X.[18]
In November 2018, Hadrian X built a three bedroom, two bathroom home structure in under three days.[19] In February 2019, Hadrian X completed its first outdoor home structure, known as 'Build1'.[20]
Work on Hadrian X commercial bricklaying robot, began in March 2015. In May 2015, Hadrian 105 demonstrator was completed, which had the bricklaying rate of 225 bricks per hour.[21][22] Hadrian X is built from steel, aluminium and carbon fibre composite materials, and is said to have the bricklaying rate of one thousand bricks per hour.[23][24]
According to the CEO Mike Pivac, the machine will be able to build with a high degree of accuracy, decrease wasted bricks and work twenty four hours a day in most weather, without having to stop for mortar to dry, since it uses polyurethane adhesive.[25][26][27]
On 25 August 2020, Hadrian X completed the Pilot Program stage of the Building Pilot Program Agreement between FastBrick Robotics and GP Vivienda, four Mexican-style two bedroom, one-bathroom house structures were completed by the Hadrian X, according to FastBrick Robotics each house was completed in less than one standard shift on average to complete.[28]
On 1 September 2020, Hadrian X began building its first non-residential commercial structure, the structure is located south east of Perth.[29]
In 2022 FBR signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Liebherr to commercialise Hadrian X.
In February 2025, PulteGroup—one of America's largest homebuilders—piloted the Hadrian X robotic bricklaying system on a site in Florida, constructing an entire house in a single day.[30]
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Edison Awards | Robotics | Won (Gold) |
| 2018 | The Urban Developer Awards | Excellence in Construction Innovation | Won |
| 2017 | iAwards National[31][32] | Inspiration of the Year (Victorian State Government) | Won |
| 2016 | Western Australia Innovator of the Year[33] | Overall Winner (Mitsubishi Corporation WA Innovator of the Year) | Won |
| 2016 | The Incite Awards (Supporting ICT Innovation in Western Australia)[34][35] | Most Disruptive Technology | Won |
Source: Wikipedia. Article content is retrieved live through the MediaWiki API.
FBR Ltd (formerly Fastbrick Robotics Limited) (ASX:FBR) is a Perth-based robotics company. FBR is the creator of Hadrian X, the world's first fully automated end to end robotic bricklayer. In November 2016, Fastbrick Robotics won the Western Australian Innovator of the Year Award.
Robotics is the branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, structural disposition, manufacture and application of robots. Robotics is related to the sciences of electronics, engineering, mechanics, and software. The following is a list of common definitions related to the Robotics field.
Robotics is the interdisciplinary study and practice of the design, construction, operation, and use of robots. A roboticist is someone who specializes in robotics. Robotics usually combines four aspects of design work: a power source (e.g. a battery), mechanical construction, a control system (electrical circuits), and software (run by remote control or artificial intelligence). The goal of most robotics is to design machines that can assist humans in various fields, such as agriculture, construction, domestic work, food processing, inventory management, manufacturing, medicine, military, mining, space exploration, and transportation. Robots impact humans by displacing workers. Some expect this to occur at an increasing rate, leading to proposed solutions such as basic income. Robotics is itself a lucrative business that creates careers, especially for postgraduates. Roboticists often aim to create machines that seem to interface naturally with humans. The field is under active research and development, with areas of interest including robot kinematics and quantum robotics.
Robotics engineering is a branch of engineering that focuses on the conception, design, manufacturing, and operation of robots. It involves a multidisciplinary approach, drawing primarily from mechanical, electrical, software, and artificial intelligence (AI) engineering . Robotics engineers are tasked with designing these robots to function reliably and safely in real-world scenarios, which often require addressing complex mechanical movements, real-time control, and adaptive decision-making through software and AI.
Before the 1921 destruction of Tulsa’s Greenwood District, Black residents had created a remarkable center of business and community life. The district included stores, professional offices, entertainment venues and homes owned by Black citizens. Understanding Greenwood means learning what was built—not only what was burned.
MORE →Joe Louis.
