Automatic Processes in Construction- Robotic Case Study
CHANGING TECHNOLOGY IS MAKING ROBOTICS / AUTOMATION IN CONSTRUCTION MUCH MORE FEASIBLE
ROBOTICS IN CONSTRUCTION
Drivers
Skills shortage
Quality
Cost
UK industrial strategy 2018
Heavily weighted toward offsite manufacture and robotics
TYPES OF AUTOMATION/ROBOTS
Single-task robotics
Fixing, drilling, cutting
Materials handling
Welding
Bricklaying
Additive manufacturing
Multi-task robotics
FRAMBE Flying Factory
WHERE IN THE ORGANISATION ARE ROBOTS LIKELY TO BE ENGAGED:
Why are construction tasks are typically challenging to automate for three main reasons:
1. Require simultaneous sensory perception and mobility capabilities
2. Uncertain Environments with a high degree of adaptability required
3. Plurality of non-standard interfaces
NESTED APPROACH TO EXPLORING NEW PROCESSES
CHALLENGES
GROUP WORK
In your groups draw a rich picture of the potential impacts of introducing SAM into the construction process
What process is it replacing and how will the new process impact preceding and subsequent processes
Be creative.
BRICK-LAYING ROBOTIC SYSTEM
THE FRAMBE PILOT
Flexible Robotic Assembly Modules for the Built Environment (FRAMBE)
Multi-disciplinary research team consisting of:
Large contractor
Robotics engineering firm
CAD/BIM software developer
Lean consultancy company
AUTOMATING FLYING FACTORIES
Taking work traditionally completed onsite into a more secure and weatherproof environment
Higher quality workmanship
Safer working environments
Increased potential for sustainable solutions
Improved programme certainty and reduced commercial risk.
AUTOMATING FLYING FACTORIES
Other benefits include:
Faster onsite installation
Reduced quality defects and associated waste
Optimised transport solutions, reducing costs
Improved programme certainty and reduced commercial risk
OFFSITE COMPONENTS
OFFSITE COMPONENTS
SETTING THE SCENE FRAMBE
Flexible Robotic Assembly Modules for the Built Environment
Who was involved: Skanska, BRE, Tekla, ABB, Exelin, UoR
Pilot flexible robotics for mobile flying factory scenario
BIM integration how does the BIM model talk to the robot
Skills and cultural changes necessary to adopt robotics into construction project
R&D in a developing field Construction Robotics
Lessons learnt to be drawn on for this project:
How robotics may reconfigure the shape of an organisation
Skills needs are unclear
Situational awareness
Moving from human-human teams to human-robot teams
SETTING THE SCENE FRAMBE
FRAMBE
FRAMBE
FRAMBE
FRAMBE
FRAMBE
THE FRAMBE PILOT
Flexible Robotic Assembly Modules for the Built Environment (FRAMBE)
Differences between current and proposed processes/practices
What impact will this have on individuals?
Social relationships welder/welders mate
Deskilling/reskilling
Wider issues of technology implementation
e.g. upgrading existing information systems
such as CAD/BIM etc.
HUMAN-ROBOT INTERACTION
Automation necessarily displaces human workers
New human-robot interactions require separate and distinct skills sets to avoid or respond to system failure
Skill-based
Rule-based
Knowledge-based
Situational awareness and mental models
Perception
Comprehension
Projection
APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING THE IMPLICATIONS
VALUE OF EXISTING SKILLS
Worker skill as a defining factor of the effectiveness and efficiency of the manufacturing process within an organisation (Yagoda & Coovert, 2012; Mital et al 1999)
Existing workers bring experience and understanding to the correct execution of the task (Khatib et al. 1999)
Experienced personnel can identify system failure and report problems accordingly
AS-IS FACTORY PROCESS
TO-BE ROBOTIC SYSTEM FACTORY PROCESS
SKILLS ASSESSMENT SHOLTZ (2003)
HOW TO INDUSTRIALISE ROBOTICS
Reframing skills needs and cultural change
Challenging normative perceptions
Communicative potential of the model
Cross-disciplinary R&D
Sensitive to nuances of existing system
Anticipate the effectiveness of humanrobot interaction
Integration of existing systems
HOW TO INDUSTRIALISE ROBOTICS CRAFT
Cross sectoral Robotic Applications For productivity Transformation
Who was involved: Skanska, Hal Robotics, MTC, BRE, Taunton Fabrications, Patera Engineering
Feasibility of robotics in manufacturing SMEs
Rapid reconfiguring of robotic systems for small production lots linked to BIM
Feasibility study for Tier 1 contractors to acquire their supply chain .?
the only way I can see robots working is through a vertically integrated supply chain (Someone Important, 2018)
CHALLENGES TO INDUSTRIALISATION
Robotics and automation are transforming the industrial landscape
Tier 2 and 3 SME firms make up a substantial proportion of the industry yet little is known about the challenges and constraints of adopting robotics and automation facing them
Value proposition for adoption yet to be understood from the perspective of the SME in relation to the broader industrial landscape
Major(?) reconfiguration of the industrial landscape is needed for SMEs to overcome challenges and constraints
WHAT WE WERE HOPING TO FIND OUT
Develop an evidence base around the impact of introducing robotics into the construction supply chain from the perspective of the SME
Explore the feasibility of adopting and implementing robotics through adaptions to SME business models
Detail potential benefits of strengthening collaborative relationships between multiple tiers adopting robotics and automation
Conceptualise the role of the robot as an active agent in brokering innovation in negotiating configurations in the industrial landscape
WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR
Its not (only) about the money
Its not about replacing humans but distributing work differently
Its not about what the robot will do but the overall portfolio of the firm
Lack of institutional support
~6/sq ft in the South West versus ~1/sq ft in the North
The wider picture is wheres the employment space to put all these robots, you know? And I think, were apple growers down here arent we, there we are, thats what they all think of us isnt it, apple growers and swede munchers from the governments point of view
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