DEWALT, a brand of Stanley Black & Decker, has introduced a downward-drilling robotic system developed in collaboration with August Robotics, aimed at automating concrete drilling work in data center construction. The system is designed to operate as part of an autonomous fleet and targets a construction phase that requires drilling large volumes of precision holes for structural and mechanical installations.
The robot is being piloted on data center projects for a large technology company classified as a hyperscaler. According to the companies, the system has completed drilling work across multiple phases of construction, producing more than 90,000 holes with reported location and depth accuracy of 99.97 percent. The companies state that drilling speeds during the pilot reached up to ten times those of traditional methods, contributing to an aggregate reduction of approximately 80 weeks in construction schedules across ten projects.
The robotic platform uses August Robotics’ autonomous drilling and fleet orchestration software, allowing multiple units to operate simultaneously on a jobsite. The system is designed to drill downward into concrete slabs, a task typically performed manually, and to support installation of server rack stops and structural legs for overhead mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.
Bill Beck, president of Tools & Outdoor at Stanley Black & Decker, said demand from hyperscale data center operators has placed increasing emphasis on construction speed. He said the robotic drilling system is intended to address scheduling, cost, accuracy, and safety considerations associated with large-scale data center builds.
DEWALT said the robotic system complements its existing portfolio of construction tools and anchoring solutions used in data center environments. Commercial availability is planned for mid-2026, and the system is scheduled to be demonstrated at the World of Concrete trade show in Las Vegas.
