Construction robots
{{Short description|Automation in building construction}}
Construction robots are a subset of industrial robots used for building and infrastructure construction at site.{{cite journal |last1=Parascho |first1=Stefana |title=Construction Robotics: From Automation to Collaboration |journal=Annual Review of Control, Robotics, and Autonomous Systems |date=3 May 2023 |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=183–204 |doi=10.1146/annurev-control-080122-090049 |s2cid=256781132 |language=en |issn=2573-5144|doi-access=free }}S. Gonzalez DE, Garcia Estremera, Armada A service robot for construction industry Proceedings World Automation Congress (2004), pp. 441-446 Despite being traditionally slow to adopt new technologies, 55% of construction companies in the United States, Europe, and China now say they use robots on job sites.{{Cite news |last=Thibault |first=Matthew |date=7 June 2022 |title=Rise of the machines? For construction, not yet |work=Construction Dive |url=https://www.constructiondive.com/news/rise-of-the-machines-for-construction-not-yet/625052/#:~:text=Most%20of%20the%20robots%20working,objects%20or%20materials%2C%20Feng%20said. |access-date=1 Feb 2023}} Most of the robots working on jobsites today are designed to remove strains on humans, e.g., excavating and lifting heavy objects. Robots that survey and layout markers, tie rebar, and install drywall are also now on the market.
Other robots are being developed to perform tasks such as finishing the exterior, steel placement, construction of masonry wall, reinforcement concrete, etc. The main challenge to use robots in site is due to limitation in workspace.{{Cite journal| doi = 10.1016/j.jobe.2020.101584| issn = 2352-7102| volume = 32| pages = 101584| last1 = Gharbia| first1 = Marwan| last2 = Chang-Richards| first2 = Alice| last3 = Lu| first3 = Yuqian| last4 = Zhong| first4 = Ray Y.| last5 = Li| first5 = Heng| title = Robotic technologies for on-site building construction: A systematic review| journal = Journal of Building Engineering| accessdate = 2021-08-04| date = 2020-11-01| s2cid = 225362095| url = https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352710220313607| url-access = subscription}}
Features
- It must be able to move.
- It must be able to handle components of variable size and weight.
- It must be able to adjust with changing environment.
- It must be able to interact with its surroundings.
- It must be able to perform multiple tasks.
Capabilities
Construction robots have been tested to carry out the followings:
- Building walls{{Cite web| title = Construction robotics is changing the industry in these 5 ways| work = The Robot Report| accessdate = 2021-08-04| date = 2019-10-18| url = https://www.therobotreport.com/construction-robotics-changing-industry/}}
- Monitor the construction progress
- Inspection robots are used to investigate the infrastructures, mainly at dangerous locations
Notable construction by robots
- 30 storied Rail City Building at Yokohama, Japan was constructed by an automated system.
- Concrete floor finish robot was used by Kajima and Tokimec companies in Japan.{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}}
- Obayashi Corporation in Japan has developed and used a system to lay concrete layers in dam construction.{{Cite web |title=Dam built by robots? Japan's Obayashi tests it out |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Engineering-Construction/Dam-built-by-robots-Japan-s-Obayashi-tests-it-out |accessdate=2021-07-30 |work=Nikkei Asia}}
Social impact
Use of the construction robots in the USA is rare, mainly due to opposition from labour unions. However, in Japan, these robots are taken positively. Construction Robots: The Search for New Building Technology in Japan
See also
References
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