A new downward-drilling robot helps speed data center construction

An estimated $6.7 trillion will be spent on data centers by 2030 to meet AI computing demand. 

To help build data centers more quickly, Dewalt, a Stanley Black & Decker brand, recently unveiled a downward-drilling robot that the company says can drill up to 10 times faster than traditional methods. The robotic drilling solution is expected to be available commercially by mid-2026.  

Powered by mobile robotics company August Robotics’ autonomous drilling and fleet orchestration platform, the robot drills into concrete quickly and safely to accelerate data center construction. The robotic solution drills thousands of holes for installation of server rack stops and structural legs that support overhead MEP systems.

The robot has completed 10 phases of data center construction for an organization that Dewalt describes as one of the world’s largest and most influential tech companies—or hyperscalers that accounted for 80% of all data center demand in 2024. Across the 10 data center projects, Dewalt’s robot reduced construction timelines by 80 weeks. 

In the ongoing pilot program, the robot achieved 99.97% accuracy after drilling over 90,000 holes. In one project, the technology cut the cost per hole from $65 to $20.

“Our customers consistently emphasize that speed of construction is critical. The robotic drilling solution meets this need head-on through schedule acceleration, cost savings, near-perfect accuracy, and enhanced jobsite safety,” Bill Beck, president, tools and outdoor, Stanley Black & Decker, said in a statement.

The drilling robot is part of Dewalt’s data center ecosystem, including Perform and Protect tools that mitigate vibration and dust and improve user control, as well as ICC anchoring solutions.