Additive Construction for Mobile Emplacement (ACME)

Additive Construction with Mobile Emplacement (ACME) is like 2D and 3D printing on a large (structure) scale using in-situ resources for construction materials. ACME is a joint effort between NASA/GCD and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Applications on terrestrial and planetary surfaces.

NASA unfunded: This project will benefit NASA as it develops concepts for habitat development on other planets, where launch up mass is at a premium and in-situ materials lend themselves well as construction materials. OGA: This project benefits the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in their attempts to develop automated construction systems to replace plywood-based B-huts currently in use. These resulting structures would take less time to build, require less mass brought in-theater, require fewer personnel, have less waste, and could be left for local populations to inhabit when finished. Nation: This item benefits the Nation because it will be utilized by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), has applicability to USAID and FEMA, and is in work to be applied in commercial construction by Caterpillar. Also benefits the small business Contour Crafting Corporation.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.