The International Association for Automation and Robotics in Construction
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Abstract: The $10 trillion global construction industry has traditionally been a labor-intensive industry, yet it stands to benefit from autonomous robots that promise to deliver construction work that is more accurate and efficient compared to manual or conventional methods. However, the integration of automation and robotic technology into the construction workplace ...
Abstract: The construction trade requires repetitive,physically demanding manual tasks which can over time posesevere risks for work-related musculoskeletal disorders(WMSDs) [1]. Exoskeletons and exosuits (collectively called"EXOs" in this work) have substantial potential to protectworkers and to increase worker productivity by reducingexertion and fatigue. Despite these potential benefits, EXOs areuncommon in the construction ...
Abstract: Flaggers are a high-risk profession. They are always required to work closely with the open traffic lanes. Any distracted, speeding or intoxicated drivers might hit them, leading to their injuries and fatalities. From 1980 to 1992, a total of 54 fatalities involving flaggers in the construction industry have been reported. ...
Abstract: This paper presents StoneClaw, our custom madefree-floating autonomous underwater vehicle thatplans for an efficient use of two complementary energysources (battery and compressed air) and exploits selfcorrectingfeatures on our designed manipulator, for constructingstructures with interlocking cement blocks.
Abstract: In this paper, we propose a teleoperatedconstruction 3D printing technology, called TeleLayering, forplanetary and terrestrial applications. The TeleLayeringtechnology is enabled by effective multimodal control andmonitoring systems and enhanced construction 3D printingrobots to build or repair a variety of structures in extremeenvironments without the need for human presence on thejobsite. This ...
Abstract: The construction trade requires repetitive, physically demanding manual tasks which can over time pose severe risks for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) [1]. Exoskeletons and exosuits (collectively called "EXOs" in this work) have substantial potential to protect workers and to increase worker productivity by reducing exertion and fatigue. Despite these potential ...
Abstract: Early identification of on-site hazards is crucial foraccident prevention in the construction industry. Currently, theconstruction industry relies on experienced safety advisors (SAs)to identify site hazards and generate mitigation measures toguide field workers. However, more than half of the site hazardsremain unrecognized due to the lack of field experience orsite-specific knowledge ...
Abstract: As the digital representation of the built environment,BIM has been used to assist robot localization. Real-worldimages captured by the robot camera can be compared withBIM-rendered images to estimate the pose. However, there isa perception gap between the BIM environment and reality;image styles are typically too different to be matched. Hence,this ...
Abstract: Robotics has been widely applied in smart constructionfor generating the digital twin or for autonomousinspection of construction sites. For example, for thermalinspection during concrete curing, continual monitoring of theconcrete temperature is required to ensure concrete strengthand to avoid cracks. However, buildings are typically too largeto be monitored by installing fixed ...
Abstract: As an integrated process in construction projects,quality assessment and management (QA&M) can be importantto prevent failures during construction. The existing QA&Mpractice such as the evaluation of the geometric tolerance andsurface qualities is mostly performed manually which can belabor-intensive and tedious. This study proposes a computationalframework for a robot to perform ...
Abstract: Building envelope inspections are necessary tomaintain buildings' energy efficiency, but current solutionsare expensive, time-consuming, and destructive. Furthermore,inspectors often face safety and accessibility issues. To mitigatethese issues, we propose a holistic system, EASEEbot, consistingof robots to capture data and help retrofit and employ artificialintelligence to assist in data analysis. The robots ...
Abstract: In this work, we establish heuristics and learningstrategies for autonomous control of a dozer grading an unevenarea studded with sand piles. We formalize the problem as aMarkov Decision Process, design a simulation which mimicsdozer-soil interactions and finally, compare our simulator to areal-world scaled environment. We use methods from reinforcementlearning, behavior ...
Abstract: Construction robots are considered a promisingsolution for reducing onsite injuries and increasing productivity.One of the bottlenecks in deploying construction robots issolving the problem of robotic motion planning, consideringthe dynamic nature of construction sites. Specifically, currentworks in robotic motion planning for construction lack thegeneralization capacity for different tasks (i.e., a robot ...
Abstract: The integration of robots into the construction industryshows promise in addressing challenges such as stagnantproductivity and low efficiency. Recently, an increasing amountof research develops construction robots based on reinforcementlearning (RL). However, most existing RL-based constructionrobots are trained to conduct specific tasks individually withoutcooperation. This paper proposes an approach that utilizes ...
Abstract: When operating a construction robot, i.e., an excavator, the excavator operator's unsafe behavior directly affects the underground utility damage occurrence during excavation process. Operator's behavior is greatly affected by the environment and further the communication with other coworkers, i.e., spotter. In this paper, we propose a multi-user immersive operation and ...
Abstract: Construction sites typically involve a risky, dynamic, and challenging work environment. Despite numerous safety training programs and regulations, accidents still occur in construction sites, especially when working with construction robotics. To alleviate this problem in the most fundamental way, teleoperation that allows operators to work remotely has been studied. Teleoperated ...