Fast Company Recognizes DEWALT’s DALE Downward Drilling Robot in 2026 Next Big Things in Tech Awards
DEWALT, a Stanley Black & Decker brand known for developing innovative tools and solutions for construction professionals, has announced that its DALE™ downward drilling robot has been named a winner in Fast Company’s 2026 Next Big Things in Tech Awards. Developed in collaboration with August Robotics, a global leader in mobile robotics, DALE is the world’s first fleet-capable downward drilling robot, designed to transform concrete drilling operations in data center construction.
The award recognizes innovative technologies created by established companies, startups, and research teams that demonstrate meaningful potential to change how consumers, businesses, and society operate. This year’s program attracted more than 1,000 applicants across over 30 categories, highlighting technologies expected to influence industries and create significant impact in the years ahead.
DALE received recognition in the “Enduring Impact: 15+ Years in Business” category, which honors organizations with established track records of adapting to changing markets, cultural shifts, and evolving product lines while continuing to drive innovation. DEWALT was the only tool manufacturer recognized in the 2026 awards program, underscoring the growing role of advanced automation in the construction equipment industry.
The recognition follows strong industry interest in DALE at World of Concrete earlier in 2026. Since then, the robot has entered the market as a specialized solution designed to improve drilling operations for large-scale data center projects. With data center construction accelerating to meet growing computing infrastructure requirements, technologies that increase productivity, improve accuracy, and strengthen jobsite safety are becoming increasingly important.
DALE Brings Automation to Data Center Construction
Data centers require extensive construction work to accommodate server racks, mechanical systems, electrical infrastructure, and other mission-critical equipment. Concrete drilling is an essential part of preparing these facilities for installation, including creating holes for server rack stops and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) supports.
Traditional drilling methods can require significant labor and time, particularly on large projects involving thousands of holes across extensive concrete floor areas. As construction schedules become more demanding, contractors and infrastructure developers are looking for ways to increase productivity without sacrificing precision, consistency, or worker safety.
DALE was developed to address these challenges by automating downward concrete drilling operations. Built on August Robotics’ autonomous, fleet-ready platform, the robot is designed to perform high-volume drilling with speed and accuracy while reducing the operational burden associated with conventional methods.
Its fleet-capable design supports the use of robotics in demanding construction environments, where reliable performance and efficient coordination are essential. By introducing automation into a repetitive but critical construction task, DEWALT and August Robotics aim to help contractors improve execution and support faster project completion.
The technology is particularly relevant to hyperscalers and other organizations building large data centers. These facilities must be constructed and equipped efficiently to bring additional computing capacity online. Improving the speed of foundational installation activities can help construction teams manage schedules and coordinate subsequent work more effectively.
Drilling Speeds Up to 10 Times Faster Than Traditional Methods
Performance results from DALE’s pilot program demonstrate the potential benefits of automated drilling in large-scale construction. According to DEWALT, the robot achieved drilling speeds of up to 10 times faster than conventional methods.
The pilot program also helped reduce project schedules by more than 300 weeks across 44 phases of data center construction. These results highlight the potential of automation to address repetitive tasks that can otherwise require considerable time and coordination across large projects.
In addition to speed, DALE demonstrated a high level of drilling precision. During the pilot program, the robot achieved more than 99% accuracy while drilling over 385,000 holes. This performance is particularly important in data center construction, where the precise placement of holes can affect the installation of server racks, MEP supports, and related infrastructure.
Consistent drilling accuracy can help construction teams prepare work areas for subsequent installation activities while reducing the likelihood of errors that could require corrective work. By combining high-speed operation with automated precision, DALE is designed to support both productivity and quality requirements on demanding construction sites.
The reported results illustrate how robotics can contribute to improvements in construction workflows. Rather than simply increasing the speed of individual drilling operations, an automated system can help teams manage repetitive work across multiple project phases and support more predictable execution.
Features Designed to Improve Uptime, Safety, and Efficiency
DALE incorporates several features intended to support continuous operation and improve jobsite productivity. Fast-swap batteries allow operators to replace batteries quickly, helping reduce interruptions and maintain drilling activity. Remote monitoring provides visibility into operations, supporting oversight of the robot as it performs its assigned tasks.
The system also includes automatic dust extraction, which helps manage dust generated during concrete drilling. Dust control is an important consideration in construction environments, where maintaining cleaner work areas can support safer and more efficient operations.
Another key feature is AI-driven quality assurance. This capability is designed to help verify drilling quality and support consistent results across large volumes of holes. By combining automated drilling with quality checks, DALE can help construction teams maintain greater control over repetitive installation preparation tasks.
The robot is also designed to leave work areas clean and ready for immediate MEP installation. This can help accelerate downstream construction activities by reducing delays between drilling and subsequent installation work.
Together, these capabilities are intended to improve the efficiency of concrete drilling while supporting a more organized construction workflow. The emphasis on uptime, remote monitoring, dust extraction, and quality assurance reflects the practical requirements of high-volume drilling in modern data center projects.
DEWALT and August Robotics Combine Construction Expertise With Robotics
DALE was developed through a collaboration between DEWALT and August Robotics. The partnership brings together DEWALT’s experience in professional construction tools and August Robotics’ expertise in autonomous mobile robotics.
The collaboration aims to apply advanced automation to a specific construction challenge: completing large volumes of concrete drilling quickly, accurately, and consistently. By combining robotics with a tool brand established in the construction market, the companies are seeking to deliver a solution tailored to the requirements of large infrastructure projects.
Bill Beck, President of Tools & Outdoor at Stanley Black & Decker, said the recognition from Fast Company was meaningful for the teams involved in developing the technology.
“It is incredibly meaningful to see this work acknowledged by Fast Company,” Beck said. “Our teams set out to address a major challenge facing large scale infrastructure projects: how to help crews move faster without compromising consistency, safety, or control. This recognition reflects the strength of that effort and the value of bringing advanced automation to one of the most demanding construction environments. Working alongside August Robotics, we have introduced innovation that helps customers increase output, simplify execution, and better support the pace of modern building.”
The comments reflect the companies’ focus on solving practical construction challenges through automation. DALE is intended to help customers increase output and simplify drilling operations while maintaining the quality and control required on complex jobsites.
Expanding DEWALT’s Data Center Construction Solutions
DALE also complements DEWALT’s broader portfolio of solutions for data center construction. The offering includes PERFORM AND PROTECT™ tools and ICC anchoring solutions, which support construction professionals working on demanding infrastructure projects.
As data center facilities become increasingly important to digital infrastructure, construction teams face pressure to deliver projects efficiently while accommodating complex installation requirements. Automated drilling adds another capability to the range of technologies available to support these projects.
By focusing on high-volume concrete drilling, DALE addresses a specific stage of construction that can influence the timing of later installation activities. Its speed, accuracy, and monitoring features are intended to help contractors prepare concrete surfaces for server rack stops and MEP supports more efficiently.
The system’s fleet-capable design also highlights the potential for robotics to become a more integrated part of construction operations. As companies explore ways to improve productivity across large projects, autonomous systems may provide opportunities to automate repetitive tasks while allowing crews to focus on other essential activities.
Fast Company Recognition Highlights Construction Technology Innovation
Fast Company’s 2026 Next Big Things in Tech Awards attracted more than 1,000 applicants across over 30 categories. The program recognizes technologies with the potential to make a meaningful difference for businesses, consumers, and society.
DALE’s selection in the “Enduring Impact: 15+ Years in Business” category recognizes the innovation associated with bringing autonomous drilling technology into the construction market. As the only tool manufacturer represented in the program, DEWALT’s recognition highlights the increasing intersection of professional tools, robotics, and digital construction technologies.
With pilot results showing drilling speeds up to 10 times faster than traditional methods, more than 300 weeks in reported schedule reductions across 44 construction phases, and over 99% accuracy across more than 385,000 holes, DALE demonstrates the potential of automation to address demanding infrastructure construction requirements.
DEWALT and August Robotics are positioning the technology as a solution for high-volume drilling in data center construction, where productivity, precision, and reliable execution are essential.
For more information about the 2026 award honorees, visit Fast Company’s Next Big Things in Tech Awards list at Additional information about DALE and DEWALT’s solutions for construction professionals is available at while details about August Robotics and its autonomous mobile robotics solutions
