Towson, Md. – – October 07, 2026 -- DEWALT's autonomous drilling robot DALE has cut data center construction timelines by more than 300 weeks across 44 project phases, earning the Stanley Black & Decker brand a win in Fast Company's 2026 Next Big Things in Tech Awards.
DALE drills up to 10 times faster than conventional methods
Developed with global mobile robotics firm August Robotics, the fleet-capable downward drilling robot was selected from more than 1,000 applicants across over 30 award categories. DEWALT was the only tool manufacturer represented in the program, placing in the 'Enduring Impact: 15+ Years in Business' category.
Pilot program logs 385,000 holes at over 99% accuracy
During pilot deployment, DALE drilled more than 385,000 holes with over 99% accuracy while operating at speeds up to 10 times faster than traditional drilling methods. The robot features fast-swap batteries, remote monitoring, automatic dust extraction and AI-driven quality assurance, designed to keep sites clean and ready for immediate mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) installation.
Hyperscalers push for faster build cycles as data center demand accelerates
As data center development accelerates globally, hyperscalers are prioritizing execution speed to bring new computing capacity online faster. Bill Beck, President of Tools & Outdoor at Stanley Black & Decker, said the technology was built to help crews move faster without sacrificing consistency, safety, or control on large-scale infrastructure projects.
DALE expands DEWALT's data center construction portfolio
Built on August Robotics' autonomous, fleet-ready platform, DALE delivers high-volume drilling for server rack stops and MEP supports. The robot joins DEWALT's existing data center offering, which includes its PERFORM AND PROTECT tools and ICC anchoring solutions. DALE previously drew industry attention at the World of Concrete trade show earlier in 2026 before entering the market as a dedicated data center construction solution.