Robotics and Automation in Construction Industry

Abstract

Construction phase is one of the important aspects of civil engineering structures. The success of a project depends on how well the construction phase is carried out. Efficient and economical construction is particularly important because of the increasing complexity of structures being built, the availability of improved materials and construction equipment. Typically in manufacturing field, robots are stationary and product moves along the assembly line. Automation is easier to incorporate because each product is identical with respective tasks done over and over. However, construction robots face with different demands than conventional industrial robots. They must move about the site, because buildings are stationary and of a large size. They require engines, batteries or motors and drive themselves. Construction robots also faced with changing site conditions and must be reprogrammed with each new condition. They must be able to function under adverse weather conditions including variations in humidity and temperature. Additionally, they are constantly exposed to dust and dirt on the site. Thus, there is a need to develop a robotic system for full-scale experimentation for realistic assessment of automation in the construction industry. This paper presents some aspects of robotization and automation and a case study is presented to demonstrate the applicability of robotics in construction industry.