Imagine, a home for everyone all thanks to 3D printing technology. That's the vision of University of Southern California professor Berokh Khoshnevis, who has spent the last decade working on a gigantic 3-D printer that can print everything from concrete to electrical wiring and even plumbing.

Here he is discussing his idea during a TEDx talk from 2013.



After perfecting the difficult process of extruding concrete in a layered fashion, Khoshnevis' “contour crafting” robotic construction system can now print entire six-foot tall sections of homes. The system uses robotic arms and extrusion nozzles that are controlled by a computerized gantry system which moves a nozzle back and forth. Here's a look at how it works:



The machine can also be loaded to use gypsum, wood chips, and epoxy. According to the professor, the next step is to get it to work on adobe materials.

The ultimate goal is to be able to build a 2,500-square-foot home in 20 hours, making it perfect to be used for emergency and temporary shelters.

[Fast Co.]