> Not only is this a technical marvel, but it has potential construction physics implications. I don't think this is true. Gabion walls are already widely us

> Not only is this a technical marvel, but it has potential construction physics implications. I don't think this is true. Gabion walls are already widely used, particularly in geotechnical structures, and masonry structures have been around for literally thousands of years. The reason modern building technologies such as concrete/steel/composite structures replaced these techniques is that they are far safer, easier to maintain, far more space-efficient and and impose far fewer architectural constraints. Automating this process helps drive down the cost, but cost is one of many factors and not a critical one. > Suddenly, an alternative just got a lot cheaper. Not really. This article just showcases a way to automate the construction of a particular wall type. This by no means implies these walls are now competitive. Other than aesthetics, I don't see how it's possible to even conceive standard techniques such as gabion walls being replaced by dry-stone walls. The cost of building a gabion wall is literally the cost of a metal mesh and filling it with rocks. Gabion walls are even used by armed forces as rapid-deployment defensive walls in the form of Hesco bastions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hesco_bastion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hesco_bastion