NEWS
Let robots do the heavy lifting Why the construction industry needs robotics
T
he construction industry continues to face a myriad of challenges in 2024: recruitment gaps, sustainability concerns and an ongoing need to improve worker safety. Here, Dave Walsha, sales manager at drive system supplier EMS, explains why the adoption of robotics could provide a resolution.
Overcoming staffing shortages Filling in skills gaps is one example of how robotics might be used to benefit construction companies. Consultancy firm Pagabo found that some 92 percent of construction firms are struggling to recruit the right talent. Specialist skills like welding are in dwindling supply and as more employees begin to reach retirement age, there is concern that there is not enough fresh talent entering the industry to meet future demands.
Here, robots could step in to make up for some of the worker shortfall. Monotonous and repetitive jobs, such as simple welding tasks, could be automated to free up valuable time for employees. This way, there is still the opportunity for human workers to use their skills for more complex tasks, but without having to do so on top of their normal workload.
Improving worker safety Closely linked to improving retention and recruitment is safety. Hazardous environments, such as those with harmful chemicals like asbestos, are ideal for robot deployment.
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To protect against asbestos dust, workers will typically need to wear protective suits and masks. These can restrict movement and be uncomfortable to wear for long
periods. Furthermore, exposure rules dictating how long employees can work with asbestos per day can mean that for large-scale projects, asbestos removal is a costly and time-consuming process. Instead, asbestos experts could look to utilise robotics technology. Opting for a remotely operated solution means that the health risk posed to employees is averted, while still making use of their expertise to control and manipulate the robot to remove asbestos panelling safely.
Driving sustainable buildings Robotics could also be beneficial for construction waste recycling. It is estimated that 32 percent of our landfill waste comes from building construction and demolition. Sorting through waste manually is a time-consuming and arduous process, often putting workers at risk of contaminated or otherwise hazardous objects, such as extremely sharp materials. Automating the process can help construction companies cut the amount of waste they send to landfill while increasing their recycling for more sustainable business operations.
Why the delay?
While there are use cases for robotics within a construction setting, there is still clearly a lag in adoption. Data presented in 2022 at the Big 5 Global, one of the largest events in the construction industry, estimated that 98.8 percent of work carried out in the industry was performed solely by humans. There has been little progress in successfully implementing alternative, autonomous methods. It is the construction processes themselves that are often a huge barrier to robotic adoption.
Dedicated design
For a robot to successfully navigate around the construction site on its own and avoid surrounding objects, robots must have more sophisticated object recognition powered by onboard sensors to safely move around. These may be visual sensors using regular cameras and image processing technology, or Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), using near-infrared light.
DC motor technology
To improve the functionality of the robot, we need to take a closer look at the underlying motor technology. A robot may contain any number of small DC motors, depending on the extent and range of movement required. Since the range of tasks on any construction site can vary widely, it is imperative that the robot is designed to accommodate for these. For example, a robot tasked with picking up and placing objects will need a strong enough grip to hold it securely without damaging the material.
6 OCTOBER 2024 | ELECTRONICS FOR ENGINEERS
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