Professor aims to build homes on the moon

Behrokh Khoshnevis, a professor of industrial and systems engineering and civil and environmental engineering at the Viterbi School of Engineering, has recently developed Contour Crafting, a technology to build structures with much thicker layers than the usual type of 3-D printing.

The technology, which Khoshnevis has devoted 15 years to creating, could make building houses utilizing 3-D printers a possibility.

“It is a hundred times faster and it gets smooth surfaces,” Khoshnevis said, holding up one of his models.

The robotic construction system has completed the printing of 6-foot-tall sections of homes in Khoshnevis’ lab.

The invention has already received a favorable reception from NASA. Khoshnevis has received a grant from the organization to begin applying his Contour Crafting system to build structures on the moon and Mars.

Khoshnevis said that though he started with the simple idea of 3-D house printing, he has gone through a great deal of trial and error in developing Contour Crafting. For example, he said he spent years trying to solve the issue of pumping concrete from ground level up to the large robotic machine while making sure it retained its viscosity.

But Khoshnevis said he’s grateful for the problem that came up.

“It shows something that you haven’t thought about,” he said. “It shows something new and you really don’t know what the outcome will be. It shows the potential to move forward.”

The expense of transporting the construction material to the moon will cost as much as $200,000 per kilogram, Khoshnevis said. He believes this high expense will push Contour Crafting technology onto a new level.

Khoshnevis has already run some tests using soil from Mars, which he found to be rich with sulfur. He invented a new machine in order to replace water with sulfur to bind the soil.

Khoshnevis believes construction on the moon, however, will have certain benefits.

“It’s to our advantage. … The building doesn’t have to be as strong [because gravity is one-sixth what it is on Earth],” he said.

Once the technology has proven itself, Khoshnevis said landing and departure pads, shelters and even homes could be constructed on other planets.

“I am fascinated by the idea of creativity and invention,” he said. “This is the most exciting path in life, to keep doing things that nobody has done.”

He is now anticipating a certificate to use Contour Crafting technology to print a real building. The building will take less time and cost less money than regularly constructed buildings. It will also save numerous human resources.

“You are taking a good human being with potential of creating and you are pushing him into repeated work. For me that is a crime,” Khoshnevis said.

Once Contour Crafting technology is applied into mass production,” Khoshnevis said. “The construction industry will experience drastic change.”

With the help of colleagues and the support from family, Khoshnevis said he is enjoying the journey itself. He said that his unprecedented work is what defines him.

“The mission of humanity is to expand what’s going on and we have to push our civilization forward,” he said. “Everyone should make a difference.”

 

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