Towson, Md. – October 16, 2026 -- DEWALT's DALE drilling robot has cut project timelines by more than 300 weeks across 44 data center construction phases, and TIME has named it to its Best Inventions of 2026 list in the Robotics category.
DALE, an autonomous downward drilling robot, was developed by DEWALT, a Stanley Black & Decker brand, in collaboration with mobile robotics company August Robotics. TIME editors and correspondents selected 300 winning innovations based on originality, efficacy, ambition, and impact.
DALE drills up to 10 times faster than conventional methods on live jobsites
On live data center jobsites, DALE has reached drilling speeds up to 10 times faster than conventional methods. The robot has drilled more than 385,000 holes with over 99% accuracy.
DEWALT describes DALE as the world's first fleet-capable downward drilling robot. It is optimized for concrete drilling in data center construction, where demand for new computing capacity continues to accelerate.
Stanley Black & Decker ties DALE to productivity and safety demands
Bill Beck, President, Tools & Outdoor at Stanley Black & Decker, said the robot reflects DEWALT's focus on applying advanced technology in a practical, results-driven way. He said it helps customers meet rising demands with greater productivity and improved safety.
DALE entered the market earlier this year as a solution built for data center construction. DEWALT says the TIME recognition validates the role of robotics in helping customers increase output, simplify workflows, and improve safety on large-scale infrastructure projects.