Using Rescue Robots to Increase Construction Site Safety

Robotics technology is continuously gaining in importance in many applications. Especially mobile robots are already widely used in many fields including construction sites. Accidents in the construction industry have been identified as one of the most hazardous incidents compared to other work environments. We therefore propose to consider robotics technology to improve this situation. This paper introduces the idea of applying rescue robots as an accident prevention and first aid provision system at construction sites. In doing so, the mobility of the robot is a key issue. The paper presents a special robot, the rugbot, and a novel mechatronic component, a so-called flipper, which can be used to adapt the footprint of the robot. This allows the robot to negotiate a difficult environment as it can be found at construction sites.