DEWALT’s DALE drilling robot named to TIME and Fast Company honors

DEWALT, a brand under Stanley Black & Decker, has announced that DALE, a fleet-capable downward-drilling robot developed in partnership with August Robotics, has received recognition from both TIME and Fast Company. TIME named DALE to its 2026 Best Inventions list in the Robotics category, while Fast Company included it in its 2026 Next Big Things in Tech awards.

Designed specifically for data center construction, the robot automates the drilling of concrete floors for rack supports and mechanical systems. The technology aims to increase speed and safety by reducing worker exposure to dust and vibration. DEWALT reports that DALE has drilled over 385,000 holes with an accuracy rate above 99%, achieving speeds up to 10 times faster than conventional methods. The company claims the robot has helped remove more than 300 weeks from construction schedules across 44 data center phases.