The research group led by Prof. Darwin Lau has received the 2nd Runner-Up Award for the Open Section in the IET Young Professionals Exhibition & Competition (YPEC) 2025.
YPEC is an annual exhibition and competition for engineering projects, hosted by the Younger Members Section of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Hong Kong. This event brings together young engineers and students from various disciplines to showcase their projects and present their innovations in engineering and technology.
Awardees: Mr. Man Loc Cheung, Mr. Tsz Lok Chung, Miss Elif Gamze Dedeler, Prof. Darwin Lau (Supervisor)
Project Title: CU-Brick – Brick Laying Cable-Driven Robot for a Real-World Construction Project
Project Description:
The construction industry faces significant challenges, including labor shortages, dangerous working conditions, and demands for environmental sustainability. CU-Brick addresses these issues through an innovative cable-driven robotic system that automates bricklaying with enhanced speed, precision, and safety. Developed by The Centre for Robotics in Construction and Architecture (CRCA) at CUHK through collaboration between the Architecture and Engineering departments, this system successfully constructed the Yard for Environmental Sustainability (YES) Pavilion—a real-world demonstration of smart construction technology.
The eight-cable robotic system features wireless grippers, real-time AI-powered tracking, reconfigurable cable attachments, and collision-free workspace planning. Integrated with Building Information Modeling (BIM), CU-Brick transforms complex architectural designs into executable construction plans through data-driven computational models. The YES Pavilion project showcased the robot’s capabilities by laying over 5,800 bricks across 40 layers, placing each brick in just 36 seconds with minimal errors.
CU-Brick delivers substantial benefits: increased productivity through faster construction with reduced labor requirements, enhanced safety by automating high-risk tasks, and improved sustainability through precise material usage. The system represents a collaborative approach that combines robotic technology with skilled craftsmanship, demonstrating that construction can be faster, safer, and more sustainable through technological innovation.
