Smart component-oriented method of construction robot coordination for prefabricated housing

Although achievements have been made in research on robotic construction for specific construction tasks, robots are still not capable of working together to accomplish multiple construction tasks. To achieve this goal it is necessary to study how to realize robot coordination in prefabricated construction. In this paper, we propose a component-oriented robot construction approach. Using the smart construction object (SCO) approach, diverse construction tasks are assigned to robots by assigning state and requirements to the components to drive multiple robots for the assembly of prefabricated housing. Within a prototype BIM simulation environment, we implemented multiple different robots to complete the construction of a steel frame based on the SCOs. For more realistic robot-base construction design, the next step is the introduction of more complicated BIM models and more accurate robot models to enable collaborative simulation of a wider variety of prefabricated construction processes.

Automated summary

The paper introduces a component-oriented robot construction approach for robots to work collaboratively in prefabricated construction using smart construction objects (SCOs). Multiple different robots were successfully implemented in a prototype BIM simulation environment to assemble a steel frame based on the SCOs. Next steps involve introducing more complex BIM models and accurate robot models for a wider range of collaborative simulation in prefabricated construction processes.