World’s first fleet-capable drilling robot hits 10x speed with 99% accuracy

A drilling robot built for data center construction has already punched more than 385,000 holes into concrete, and DEWALT says it did so with over 99 percent accuracy.

DALE, developed with mobile robotics company August Robotics, is designed to handle the repetitive drilling needed to install server racks and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. Unlike a machine built for a single work area, DALE is designed to operate as part of a fleet.

The machine can drill at up to 10 times the speed of conventional methods. Its pilot deployments also helped cut more than 300 weeks from 44 data center construction phases, according to DEWALT.

Robot built for repetition

Concrete drilling is hardly the most glamorous part of building a data center. It is also one of the jobs that can consume enormous amounts of labor when projects require holes across thousands of square feet.

DALE is intended to take much of that repetition out of the hands of construction crews. The robot can move through a work area, position itself, and drill according to the required layout.

Remote monitoring lets operators oversee its work without standing beside the machine for every hole. Fast-swap batteries can also get the robot back to work without lengthy interruptions.

Dust extraction happens automatically during drilling. The system also checks its work using AI-based quality assurance, giving crews another layer of verification before subsequent installation begins.

Fleets could change the equation

The more interesting part of DALE may be its ability to work as a fleet. Large data center projects can span enormous construction areas and involve several work fronts at once. A fleet of autonomous machines gives contractors a way to increase drilling capacity without simply adding more workers to the same repetitive task.

August Robotics developed the autonomous mobile platform behind DALE. DEWALT has adapted that platform around the demands of concrete drilling on data center sites. The results from the pilot program give the concept some substantial numbers.

Bill Beck, president of Tools & Outdoor at Stanley Black & Decker, said the goal was not simply to make drilling faster. “Our teams set out to address a major challenge facing large scale infrastructure projects,” Beck said. “How to help crews move faster without compromising consistency, safety, or control.”

That distinction matters on projects where a drilling delay can push back work that follows it. Getting holes completed and verified sooner can clear the way for MEP installation and other construction activities.

Robot gets industry recognition

DALE has now picked up recognition from Fast Company, which named it a winner in its 2026 Next Big Things in Tech Awards. The robot won in the “Enduring Impact” category for companies with more than 15 years in business.

DEWALT was the only tool manufacturer represented in the program, which drew more than 1,000 applicants across more than 30 categories. The recognition comes after DALE made its public debut at World of Concrete earlier this year.

DEWALT has since brought the system into the market as data center construction faces growing demands for speed and productivity.