Application of Robotic Arm Technology in Intelligent Construction

Abstract

Information technology is booming, and digital fabrication or intelligent construction will be an important key point in the industrialization of buildings. In recent years, the research of digital technology in the field of architecture design is more about the prototype generation in the concept stage, lacking digital entities of physical output that can get feedback. China started late in these two areas, and it is important to study the intelligent construction in the industrialization of buildings. Intelligent construction requires digital text, digital design, digital control processing, digital fabrication, and intelligent management after completion. This reflects informationization to promote the transformation and upgrading of manufacturing. Slip Forming is one of the most widely used construction techniques. Nonlinear geometries produced via algorithmic design processes are not easily achievable through traditional rigid formwork process. Now a more intelligent slip forming process is required to efficiently represent digital physical entities. This paper firstly sorts out the intelligent construction under the background of 4.0 era, its history, construction method, equipment technology and construction practice. The paper presents a digital formwork processing developed to work in conjunction with a 6-axis robotic arm for shaping doubly curved column based on the traditional slip forming technique. The research findings are intended to explore the intelligent production of nonlinear panels, and proved that this unique slip forming is a more sustainable method of robotic construction in 4.0 era.