Technology
Robots
future of
construction
industry
An increasing reliance on robotics to tackle the
complexities of mega projects has started ushering
in a new era in construction industry
T
By Velprakash K
echnology is transforming the
construction and project man-
agement landscape in more ways
than one. An increasing reliance
on technology, along with robotics, to
tackle the complexities of mega projects,
has started pushing companies to explore
newer and cost effective solutions. In fact,
robots are now the centre of all futuristic
construction technology. A multi-purpose
drone, bulldozer automation systems,
robots cutting, stacking and packaging
materials and welding structural
frames are increasingly
becoming a common
feature across large,
complex construction
projects.
Technology
can also monitor
deliveries, inven-
tory and enhance
the efficiency of the
overall process. This
has led to an increase
in the demand of vari-
ous types of robots viz.
collaborative industrial
robots, logistics robots,
building automation,
autonomous drones,
additive manufacturing and
3D printing etc.
Robots also help cope with
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mundane activities like lifting, shift-
ing, loading unloading and other kind
of repetitive jobs reducing dependence
on human intervention and external
factors such as fatigue, interest, skills,
work timing and human errors. Apart
from addressing the issue of productivity,
robots also play a key role in challenging
work environment like mines and tun-
neling, where work has to be carried out
in confined spaces and extreme weather
conditions, human intervention in these
areas is impossible. Here are some of the
other challenges where the use of robot-
ics in construction can help.
Project complexity
Construction projects are
becoming more demanding
and complicated in design.
Structural complexity,
technical complexity and
high levels of dynamism
on the end user needs
flexibility to adopt to
changes and re-engineer
during construction,
with zero impact to
project end results.
Environmental
sustainability
Robots with their preci-
sion, can contribute
towards reducing the
carbon footprint by
means of reduced usage of fossil fuel, re-
duced air and noise pollution and in addi-
tion can contribute to safe work practices
and minimise other environmental risk
associated with construction.
Time constraint
As projects continue to become increas-
ingly complex, contractors face a huge
risk on timely delivery. The advent of
precast technology in the present form,
and integration of robots with technology
helps to optimise and expedite project
timelines.
As a result of these, the demand for in-
dustrial robots has accelerated consider-
ably in the past couple of years. Between
2011 and 2016, the average robot sales
grew at 12% per year (CAGR) with the
number of industrial robots deployed
worldwide estimated to increase to 2.6
million units by 2019. Manufacturers are
taking a note of this surge in demand.
For example, a New York based com-
pany, Construction Robotics has created
a Semi-Autonomous Mason - Sam100,
whose margin of error is now measured
in millimetres. It can apply mortar to
any size brick and place one every 8.5
seconds. Where a human mason can lay
300-600 bricks in an eight-hour shift,
Sam can lay more than 3,000.
A robot, called WALT (by Endless
Robotics) can paint walls about 30 times
quicker than a human at a speed of about
60 square feet per minute and can work
at heights from 8ft to 14ft.
Another disruptive technology is 3D
printing. It drastically reduces time
overruns and labour cost needed for
construction projects. With 3D print-
ing, one caneffectively print an entire
prefabricated building structure and later
assemble them into a complete building
onsite. Companies such as Caterpillar,
Cazza, have already introduced products
around this.
Manufacturers are now creating robots
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