Potential Robotics Utilization in Construction

TLDR

Robotization of construction is driven by need, technology, and economics, supported by ten characteristics such as labor intensity and safety, and offers benefits in productivity, quality, and labor cost savings. The study presents a methodology to assess the feasibility of robotics in construction. The methodology evaluates each construction process across material handling, sensor technology, control software complexity, hardware, and end‑effector requirements, ranking 33 operations numerically. The analysis ranks 33 operations and offers recommendations for future research.

Abstract

This paper provides a methodology for feasibility analysis of robotics in the construction industry. Major factors in robotization of construction processes are identified as need, technology, and economics. Ten characteristics supporting the need for robotization have been identified: labor intensiveness, vanishing skill area, high skill requirement, precision and dexterity requirement, repetitiveness, tedious and boring, critical to productivity, unpleasant and dirty, hazardous to health, and physically dangerous. The technological areas against which each construction process was evaluated included: material handling requirements, required sensor technology, complexity of required control software, control hardware, and end effector requirements. The economic benefits of robotization are basically due to productivity improvement, quality improvement, and savings in skilled labor. 33 operations are evaluated and numerical rankings are developed. Recommendations for future research are presented.