BIRONDO, BIENVU S.

ROBOTS IN CONSTRUCTION

 Robots in the Workforce

o 2017 International Federation of Robotics report, sales of robot technology
increased in 2015 by roughly 15% from previous years
o companies worldwide will employ 2.5 million industrial robots by 2019
o experts predict that robots will eliminate up to 800 million jobs by 2030

 The Productivity Effect

o new technological advancements aren’t here to render some jobs obsolete but
when robots replace manual labor, the overall productivity increases
dramatically due to the high level of precision and quality

7 Ways Robotics is Transforming the Construction Industry

 Automated Technology
o allow for greater automation in various processes
o this will not only allow for precision and accuracy throughout all construction
processes, it represents a significant time and financial savings as well

 Altered Workforce
o WEF (World Economic Forum) predicts that these technologies will be slowly
integrated, replacing specific tasks, not jobs entirely
o this allows companies to employ fewer staff who become responsible for a
variety of activities
o the WEF predicts that over 400,000 jobs in architecture and engineering will be
needed

 Lean Construction Practices

o Traditional construction practices produce an inordinate amount of waste, which
is not only bad for the environment, but significantly affects profitability.
o Robotic technology however can help reduce the amount of waste created
because of its ability to ensure accuracy and precision.
o Reduced waste and standardized materials will positively impact profitability.

 Higher Quality
o Manufacturing parts and materials will be much more consistent, with a higher
quality.
o By removing human error and inconsistency, these machines can take advantage
of speed, efficiency and repeatability to ensure better overall quality.
 3D Printing
o Now it is possible to print complex, layered, parts and objects that can be used in
the construction of homes, buildings, bridges and roads.
o Robotic machines can standardize the production of pieces that can be used
throughout various projects, saving both time and money.

 Demolition
o Speeding up the demolition process can provide a large saving of time and
money.
o Breaking down walls, crushing concrete, and gathering all debris is the first step
in many construction processes, and robotics is making these processes much
more efficient.

 Brick Laying
o Although residential construction has been slow to adopt technology and
change, robotics in brick laying should be a serious consideration.
o It is a rather simple process whereby construction workers simply feed bricks
into a machine, and using CAD software, it is laid out accurately and precisely.
o Some of the most advanced brick laying machines can complete an entire house
within a few days.