Integrated, Automated and Robotic Process for Building Upgrading with Prefabricated Modules

Adding manually thermal insulation onto an existing building is an inefficient and labor-intensive process. To avoid such manned labor on site, recent approaches have been developed for installing prefabricated modules onto existing buildings’ envelopes. However, the monitoring and the analysis of these approaches expose that these procedures are still time-consuming and inaccurate. In mass manufacturing industries, robots facilitate time reduction while ensuring accuracy. Nevertheless, the main challenge for adopting robotized manufacturing and installation processes in building renovation relies on the constant customization of the prefabricate d modules , both off-site in the factory and on-site in construction. In pursuance of improving such situation, the authors conceived a novel process that automates the customization, the manufacturing and the installation processes of the modules. The solution integrates and links systems such as accurate coordinate acquisition, parametric design, digital manufacturing of elements and robotic assembly and installation of the modules. The main body of this paper describes the structure of this novel conceptual process. This process has been initially proofed, addressing mainly the feasibility and the correct sequence of each of the steps. The results show that this novel process, after further development, can be a solution for gaining efficiency on the building renovation processes.