Shanghai authorities recently moved a traditional shikumen-style building complex at a pace of 10 meters per day with the help of an army of 432 hydraulic-powered robots.

The Huayanli complex, located within Zhangyuan in Shanghai’s Jing’an district, has been touted as China’s largest relocation project of its kind, both in terms of size and complexity. The tight layout of the building complex, which dates back to the 1920s and 1930s, made traditional construction and relocation tools virtually unusable, but authorities needed to find a way to move the entire block several hundred meters for the construction of a three-story underground structure. The project required all sorts of advanced technology that allowed the team in charge to temporarily relocate the 7,382-ton (7,500 metric ton), 13,222 square foot (4,030 square meter) building complex. Before undertaking the relocation process of the Zhangyuan city block, engineers used building information modeling and point cloud scanning technologies to create detailed 3D blueprints. They then analyzed these schematics to identify potential collision points and any significant structural problems. Deep-learning AI modules helped special earth-moving robots that can operate in spaces less than 1.2 meters wide distinguish between clay and solid obstacles in order to avoid causing irreparable damage, and drilling robots to navigate Zhangyuan’s tight alleys and corridors. After digging under Zhangyuan, the entire building complex was lifted onto a reinforced steel frame and moved at a pace of 10 meters per day, using a total of 432 small walking robots. The self-walking, low-clearance robots can be remotely controlled, and despite their snail pace, they can safely move buildings or entire building complexes. Shanghai’s Zhanguyan neighborhood began its “walk” on May 19 and will be moved to its original location as soon as the underground project beneath it is complete. Authorities want to build cultural and commercial spaces, provide over 100 parking spots, and facilitate connections between the city’s 2, 12, and 13 subway lines. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen buildings walk with the help of robots, but it’s definitely the most impressive such project yet!