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Construction robots are a sub-set of industrial robots used for building and infrastructure construction at site. These robots have to be able to move and fix itself to the working zone, handle construction materials and interact with humans and other machineries. Currently, most of the activities are in research level while some real world application has also been done such as for dam construction in Japan. Articles are mostly published by researchers in France and Singapore. Other major countries includes USA, Germany, China and Japan. These robots have been successful to do works such as finishing the exterior, steel placement, construction of masonry wall, reinforcement concrete, etc. The main challenge to use robots in site is due to limitation in workspace.
The construction industry is facing a future marred by an ageing global population and an inability to attract young people. A seeming fix-all for the industry is the adoption of robotics technologies. If companies are seen to be adopting newer technologies and innovative processes, it will help attract younger and more tech-savvy workers. It will also ensure that companies can maintain productivity as working-age populations decrease around the world.
Robots as we know them are a 20th-century creation. However, the idea of automata or mechanical devices built to replace human labour or physical tasks is much older. Examples go as far back as ancient Egypt, Greece, and the Roman Empire. The first known case is from Egypt in approximately 3,000 BC, when human figurines were built into water clocks to automatically strike the hour bells.
What distinguishes millennia-old automata from modern robots is intelligence. Modern robots can perform physical tasks autonomously, as all automata can, but they can also sense the environment in which they operate and make their own decisions. According to GlobalData, the robotics industry will grow from $45.3bn in 2020 to reach $568.1bn by 2030, having grown at a CAGR of 28.8%. As robotics spreads to more industrial and service sectors, one of the most important tasks ahead for policymakers will be to harness the economic benefits that robotics can bring while minimising the negative social impacts.
Some occupations in construction have a higher potential for automation like operating engineers which has an 88% potential for automation. One of the reasons for this is that autonomous heavy equipment already exists, using similar technology for self-driving cars, and is currently in use to perform excavation, grading and sitework. Equipment manufacturers like Komatsu, CAT, Volvo CE and others are investing heavily in research and development to perfect the technology and bring it to market.
Other occupations have a smaller potential for automation like roofers (31%), construction laborers (35%) and sheet metal workers (39%). Part of the reason is that it’s not technically feasible to replicate certain tasks using robots and that much of the physical work done in construction is done in unpredictable and ever-changing environments.
McKinsey estimates that the automation potential for unpredictable physical work in construction is 38% compared to predictable physical work which has a 70% automation potential for construction and extraction workers. They also predict that only 5% of all occupations across all industries have the potential to be completely replaced by robots.
Current robots are good at doing simple, repetitive tasks which is why we are seeing things like bricklaying robots or rebar tying robots. Once set up, these robots can work continuously to complete tasks faster than human workers without needing to take breaks or go home for a good night’s sleep. Robots don’t get tired from lifting bricks, applying mortar, and setting them in place or constantly bending over to tie rebar.
In both these examples, humans are still needed to perform some of the work. Both still require workers to set up the robots and get them started. For the bricklaying robot, a mason is needed to oversee the work, ensure bricks are correctly placed and clean up the mortar after they’ve been set. The rebar tying robot still needs humans to correctly place and space the rebar before it gets set in motion.
The more likely scenario is that a small number of jobs and occupations may be completely eliminated or replaced by robot workers. A majority of jobs will remain with humans working in conjunction with robots performing more of the repetitive and laborious tasks, allowing workers to be more productive and efficient by focusing on the highly-skilled tasks of their job.
New job opportunities and occupations will be created as robots make their way to the construction site. Workers will be needed to deploy, operate and oversee the work of robots. Robots will need to be repaired and maintained just like any other machine.
This, of course, will require workers to learn new skill-sets and receive additional training for these positions, but it’s nothing we haven’t experienced in the past when technological advancements have threatened to disrupt industries and send workers running to the unemployment line.
As construction projects become increasingly more complex, robots and AI software will make it easier to keep projects on schedule and within budget by improving human efficiency and productivity, which in turn will allow construction companies to take on more work and increase headcount.
The use of robots can reduce how often workers are exposed to hazardous equipment and environments and need to undertake manual heavy lifting tasks. Loads can be safely lifted and transferred between stages without human intervention, and other dangerous tasks such as roofing and demolition work can increasingly be completed by robots. Advances in remote control technology also mean that, for some tasks, no human needs to be on the construction site at all. Operators can observe from a remote location and intervene if necessary.
Source: constructconnect _ designbuild-network _ wikipedia
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