What happened to the progress of robotics and automation in the building industry? Weren't robots supposed to build our buildings by now?
I have been on a journey toward realizing the dream of automated construction for almost two decades. It all began in 2005 when I wrote my graduate thesis on "Automated Construction Technologies: Analyses and Future Development Strategies." My thesis advisor then estimated that it would take 20 to 25 years to see the technology I envisioned come to fruition. Now, 18 years later, our industry has made substantial progress, but I still have some way to go before reaching my thesis goal of a fully automated construction process.
In the last 15 years, the tech industry has undergone a rapid transformation due to the advent of automation and robotics. Advancements in AI — such as ChatGPT or DALL-E recently—machine learning, design automation tools, and robotics — from Boston Dynamics alone — have led to increased efficiency in the design, engineering, and manufacturing sectors and have gained a lot of WOW trending factors. This shows we are heading down the right path. But much more work still needs to be done, especially for the construction industry, if it is to become fully automated one day.
In 2005, finding information on technologies — which are very familiar today — like BIM, VDC, construction robotics, AI design, and construction automation was challenging, as many of these technologies either didn't exist or were in their infancy. It wasn't until a few years later that I discovered IPD (Integrated Project Delivery), BIM (Building Information Modeling), VDC (Virtual Design and Construction), and the advent of new parametric software, which revolutionized the design and engineering of buildings. Nowadays, these terminologies are either overused or well-established in the building industry.
Nevertheless, since its infancy, I have dedicated my professional career to finding automated construction solutions for the building industry. In the last 15 years, I have founded, co-founded, or worked on over 12 different companies in various design and construction-related businesses that are critical to the search for an automated solution in the industry. I have focused on areas that are not necessarily popular or profitable but are crucial to achieving my goal. With perhaps another 5 to 10 more years of hard work — which I guess is about right by my thesis advisor's estimation —will we finally see the fully automated construction industry I have been striving towards for so long?
To answer the question, what happened to the progress of robotics and automation in the building industry? The short answer is "no, we are not even close," but the long answer, which would take some elaborated explanation, is "yes, we are slowly getting there."
Let's look at this more closely at the various positive sectors that have put a lot of effort into the progress of construction automation, thus bringing us closer to my ultimate thesis goal. These areas include the good, the bad, and the potential we see in each sector.
Surveying Equipment
The first key area where automation has made the most significant stride is construction site surveying. Many current advanced surveying robots are equipped with laser-ranging technology that can quickly and accurately survey construction sites, reducing the time and costs associated with traditional surveying methods.
The Good:
The two most significant benefits of advanced automated surveying equipment are its ability to be highly accurate and efficient in collecting data. Automated surveying equipment can be relied on to freely measure distances, angles, and elevations with high precision, reducing the chances of human error. Additionally, it can collect enormous amounts of data in minutes or hours instead of days or weeks when relying on manual methods.
The Bad:
Automated surveying equipment can be expensive to purchase, maintain, and repair, making it a significant upfront investment for many companies and the requirements for specialized training and technical knowledge, making it a challenge for some companies to keep up with the technology. The other significant negative aspect is the reliability and unexpected errors of automating such activity. There is still a need to manually verify the accuracy of the data collected, which can hinder the effectiveness of automated surveying works.
The Potential:
The potential of advanced automated surveying equipment can be game-changing for the site survey and construction industries. With its advanced features, this technology has the power to transform the way we approach site surveys and construction projects. One day, we can say goodbye to the guesswork and human error that can compromise accuracy and say hello to improved data collection, unparalleled safety measures, and a sharp boost in efficiency and productivity. All of these benefits, combined with the ability to make better-informed decisions, make advanced automated surveying equipment an indispensable tool for the industry's future.
Prefab and Precast Components
The construction industry has greatly benefitted from the advancements in automation, particularly in producing prefabricated and precast components. Automated production lines of these factory-controlled products allow for the quick and consistent creation of high-quality components, reducing waste and improving quality control. Over the last decade, there has been a significant shift toward using factory-made products in the construction industry, and this trend is expected to continue to grow. The demand for global sustainable solutions and skilled labor has driven the industry towards a more controlled factory production environment. It allows for reduced waste and labor, lower emissions, and more efficient use of resources.
The Good:
Advanced automation in producing prefabricated and precast components provides numerous benefits, such as increased efficiency, improved quality control, enhanced sustainability, increased safety, and a potential solution to the shortage of skilled labor. Automated production lines and controlled factory environments allow for standardized and efficient production of high-quality components, reducing waste and improving construction processes.
The Bad:
Implementing advanced automation in producing prefabricated and precast components has challenges, including high initial costs, technical difficulties, resistance to change, workforce transitions, and the potential for over-reliance on technology. Despite these significant challenges, the benefits of automation in the construction industry outweigh the bad, and its impact on the industry can be seen as substantial. Therefore, in the meantime, balancing the use of automated technology with manual processes is essential to ensure quality control and flexibility.
The Potential:
The potential for this in the construction industry heavily depends on the power of advanced automation and its effectiveness. This technology is set to revolutionize the building industry, potentially changing how buildings are designed and constructed by streamlining production processes and automating many tasks. Despite its difficulties, the automation of prefabricated and precast products has the most promising potential to revolutionize the construction industry.
Task-focused Robots
The development and testing of task-specific robots and systems have gained much traction globally in the last decade. These specific-task robots and machines, being developed in countries such as Germany, Japan, and the US, are designed to perform specific tasks precisely, leading to decreased time and labor costs compared to traditional methods.
The Good:
Repetitive and accuracy-critical tasks such as finishing and installation assembly can significantly benefit from specialized robots, making these processes faster, safer, more efficient, and eventually cost-effective.
The Bad:
Implementing task-specific robots and systems in the construction industry can face many challenges, such as high upfront costs, technical difficulties, resistance to change, workforce transitions, and the potential for, again, over-reliance on technology. Additionally, there may be concerns about job loss and workforce retraining.
The Potential:
Achieving a harmonious blend of manual and technological processes is crucial to preserve quality control and maintaining versatility in the construction industry. The success of construction automation depends on the development of task-specific robots and systems, with the effectiveness of the automated process being directly proportional to the efficiency of these technologies. As buildings become more complex and challenging, the need for task-specific robots will be crucial to the safety and productivity of construction work. To ensure a streamlined and successful construction process, it is essential right now to strike the right balance between technology and manual processes.
Fully Automated Systems
Since my objective began, global efforts have been focused on developing fully automated construction systems. Since the 1990s, countries like Japan have been working on systems like the Automated Building Construction System (ABCS), which can construct entire buildings floor by floor without human intervention. The biggest obstacle to these systems has been the cost of their technological advancements. As technology improves and prices become more manageable, these systems have the potential to reduce costs and increase efficiency significantly, as they would be capable of constructing entire buildings without human involvement.
The Good:
The biggest benefit of fully automated construction systems is the significant cost reduction, safety, and efficiency increase. By eliminating the need for manual labor, these systems have the potential to significantly lower construction costs, which can result in significant savings for builders and developers. Additionally, these systems can work continuously and perform complex calculations on-site, reducing the need for manual data entry and analysis. This can lead to a faster construction process, better accuracy, quality control, a safer building environment, and better data analysis, ultimately resulting in a more cost-effective and efficient building process.
The Bad:
As mentioned, the biggest challenge of fully automated construction systems is the technological advancement and costs involved in their development and implementation. The technology must be available, reliable, and cost-effective to be widely adopted and implemented in the construction industry. Additionally, ensuring a balanced integration of technology and manual processes is essential to ensure quality control and flexibility in the construction process.
The Potential:
Fully automated construction systems — when done correctly — have the potential to revolutionize the building industry. Eliminating costly and risky manual labor, continuous operation, and real-time calculations and data analysis are some key benefits that can lead to faster construction processes, improved accuracy, and quality control. As technology advances in AI, machine learning, and robotics, and costs to implement continue to reduce, implementing these systems will significantly enhance the building industry by reducing costly manual labor and increasing efficiency, ultimately resulting in a safer building environment and better-built structures for the end user.
Drones and Reality Capture Equipment
Integrating drones and reality capture equipment in construction has seen tremendous growth in the last decade. These tools are equipped with cameras and sensors that can rapidly survey construction sites and provide 3D models, playing a crucial role in design, coordination, and project management.
The Good:
Using drones and reality capture equipment in construction offers numerous benefits, especially for automated construction. They provide quick and accurate site surveys, allowing for the creation of highly detailed 3D models that can be instantly used for design and construction planning. These models can also be used for visualization, collaboration, and communication among all stakeholders, reducing the risk of miscommunication and rework. Drones and reality capture equipment enable real-time monitoring and progress tracking, improving project management and decision-making. The ability to gather and process large amounts of data can also provide valuable insights into the construction process, leading to improved accuracy, quality control, and overall efficiency.
The Bad:
One of the significant concerns of drones and reality capture equipment is the cost, as the equipment is still relatively expensive, and there may be additional costs for training and maintenance. There is also the issue of privacy and security, as drones and sensors can capture sensitive information and data. In addition, there are legal and regulatory issues, such as the restrictions on drone usage in certain areas and the need for proper certifications and insurance. Furthermore, there may be technological limitations and problems with the reliability and accuracy of the equipment, which can result in poor data quality and incorrect measurements. Before implementing drones and reality capture equipment in construction projects, these factors must be considered.
The Potential:
These technologies' potential is substantial mainly because they can provide real-time data, 3D models, and aerial imagery of construction sites, enabling efficient design, coordination, and management of projects. They can also be used for site inspections, reducing the need for manual assessments and providing a safer and quicker way to survey difficult or hard-to-reach areas. As these types of technology advance, the automation of construction processes through drones and reality capture equipment can ultimately result in faster and more efficient construction.
Wrap-up of Current Assessment
The field of automation and construction robotics has seen significant progress since 2005, but it is still considered in its early stages of development. The challenges listed above are only a tiny portion of a much larger complex picture that must be addressed before widespread adoption occurs. One of the major hurdles is the construction site's unpredictable and dynamic nature, making it difficult for automation systems and robots to operate effectively. This unpredictability can cause unexpected obstacles, changes in the construction plan, and other factors that can alter the construction process and impact the performance of automation systems.
In addition, the high cost of implementing automation systems and robots and the lack of standardized protocols and guidelines are also important challenges that must be addressed. Despite these challenges, the potential benefits of automation in construction are too great to ignore, and the industry is poised for continued growth and development in the coming years. Therefore, once we can minimize this unpredictability and provide a more controlled environment for the construction site, we will only be able to advance as much as we have in the last decade.
After years of exploring and understanding various elements crucial to the development of automation in construction, I realized the biggest challenge to automation in construction is the development of robotics that can replace costly and risky manual labor. Despite progress in other areas, such as automation systems and equipment, this robotic sector still needs to catch up and requires the most effort to develop. As construction projects and building design become increasingly complex, the need for automation and robotics will become increasingly important.
With that said, my newest and most challenging focus is now shifted to my new venture, Arobotix. Arobotix technologies' objective is to develop what I call Automated Building Robotic Assembly Technology (ABRAT). It is an innovative automated robotic construction system that will revolutionize the building industry. Arobotix technology integrates the BIM/VDC/IPD process and all the robotics/automation technology available to streamline the building design and assembly process through our very own cutting-edge task-specific robotics called AROBOTS and our proprietary automated fabrication technology called MOD-FAB-TEC.
In conclusion, the state of automated construction and robotics technology in the construction industry as of 2023 is rapidly evolving, with significant advancements being made in several critical areas mentioned above. While there are many challenges to overcome, the potential benefits of automation and robotics in construction are too great to ignore. I've been on a mission and will not let up until my vision of a truly affordable and fully efficient automated construction process is realized. So stay tuned!
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