Recent innovations in professional service robots, however, are changing the way construction is completed around the world and is opening a manual-intensive industry to the potential benefits of automation.
The construction and demolition industry has required manual labor since its inception and this manual-intensive industry has been resistant to automation because the work environments are highly dynamic and unstructured in nature. Recent innovations in professional service robots, however, are changing the way construction is completed around the world.
While service robots, in their current form, are tackling tough and repetitive tasks in construction, avoiding many of the difficulties of unstructured environments, they show great promise for future growth. As the construction industry realizes the return on investment (ROI) and productivity benefits of these robots, rapid adoption and innovation is likely to follow.
The role of modern demolition robots
Today, demolition robots make up the majority of construction robots sold. They feature breakers, crushers, drills or buckets to break through building materials in the demolition of old structures. They’re intentionally built to pack a strong punch in a small space, so that they can be easily transported and fit through hallways and doorways. They operate with far greater uptime than manual demolition crews, helping deliver long-term ROI.
Demolition robots fulfill the original mission of robotic technology – they put human workers out of harm’s way by completing dangerous tasks, allowing them to focus on more cognitive-oriented tasks for greater productivity.
The growth of construction robots
Construction robots are a new form of robotic technology and many are still in the development phase, yet to see widespread adoption. Nonetheless, they have great growth potential. Construction robots can be used for bricklaying, 3D printing of large structures, disaster relief, climbing tall structures, and even wearable exoskeletons to support manual laborers.
Like many forms of robotic automation, construction robots prove their worth by increasing efficiency, delivering quick ROI, and improving overall productivity. In the case of the exoskeletons, for example, they can even prevent injury for manual workers and keep them out of harm’s way.
Construction robots and demolition robots are navigating uncharted territory. The construction industry has long been reliant on manual labor and the work environment has historically proven to be difficult to automate. Recent innovations in robotics are now allowing both of these challenges to be overcome.
This article originally appeared on the Robotics Online Blog. Robotic Industries Association (RIA) is a part of the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), a CFE Media content partner.
