Needs for Robots and Advanced Machines at Construction Site. Social Aspects of Robotics

"1. In Germany as well as most likely all over Europe, the currently essential arguments for the use of robots and advanced machines within the building trade are as follows: a) Extreme shortage of skilled workers and apprentices. This shortage is partly compensated by a decreasing demand for construction work. b) Extremely high wages (gross wages are double the net wages) c) Decline of demand - falling prices - high pressure from competitors - constraint of low cost production - constraint of rationalization. 2. The operation of the machine initially led to the following reactions among workers: a) To opposition, i.e. fright of losing their jobs. b) To increased efforts in conventional construction method in order to outdo the performance of the machine. Today, two years later, the situation is as follows: 1. The fright of joblessness has proved unfounded. On the contrary, we even had to take on additional people. 2. The workers found out the advantages the machine has to their work and health. If e.g. an architect wants traditional construction, they now are even reluctant to comply with his wishes. 3. The quality of machine - made masonry is equal, if not better, than this, which is produced on the building site and in the traditional way. Please have a look on the test certificates of the Stuttgart institution for the testing of materials. The new construction method hardly affects the planning of any architect or engineer. In his plans he just has to consider the points of separation of the prefabricated parts. "