Robotic construction analysis: simulation with virtual reality

Abstract

Advances in robotic construction are evident and increasing every year, bringing present and potential improvements. However, the economic and social impacts are hard to assess and quantify without physical in situ testing, which is expensive and time-consuming. This paper presents a methodology for the simulation of robotic construction technologies, namely drones, using a virtual reality environment. Our hypothesis is that a virtual reality simulation of a robotic construction (H1) has the potential of increasing the precision of predicting the construction duration and cost and (H2) allows for the detection of construction problems. The study begins with a review of the literature on drones, robotic arms, and hybrid automatic construction solutions, as well as virtual reality construction simulations, summarising the robotic technologies currently being used, mainly in academic research, to assemble construction elements. It then proposes a construction simulation methodology applied to three architectonic elements to analyse different approaches and different scenarios for robotic construction simulation methodology. A construction simulation is tested, and the data is analysed and compared with traditional construction methods, focussing on construction time and costs.