by Callum Rhodes
Engineers from Kite Bricks have developed a new style of brick that closely resembles LEGO, the popular construction toy.
The new Smart Bricks are topped with rows of studs that fit into corresponding spaces on the bottom. The pieces are joined with a special adhesive that eliminates the need for cement, and the structure can be strengthened by fitting steel bars into dedicated channels. The bricks themselves feature open spaces inside to improve insulation.
They come in a variety of shapes and are shipped in kits that include standardised doors and windows, to reduce waste and debris on construction sites.
Despite the resemblance, the creator of the Smart Bricks, Ronnie Zohar, said the real origin of the design was in the need for a strong, well-insulated brick, while the fact that the blocks fit together like LEGO was secondary. Kite Bricks claims the Smart Brick could reduce the cost of construction by as much as 50%.
Australian Engineering Week 2014 has also demonstrated engineers’ affinity for LEGO. As part of AEW 2014, the Victoria Division hosted a workshop that asked participants to design and build a ‘green powered’ LEGO car. The workshop was run by Valentin Muenzel, a PHD researcher in electric vehicles and battery packs at the University of Melbourne.