FEATURE Robotics
Laying the foundations for robots in construction
As pressure increases to build more homes in the UK, could robots provide the solution, asks Mark Sugden, Senior Associate, and Chris Froud, Partner, Patent Attorneys specialising in construction and robotics at Withers & Rogers
[Image: Hidefumi Ohmichi for Unsplash] F
rom brick-laying to reinforcing structures, there are many applications for robots in the construction industry. Building
sites are in many ways the ideal place for robots. There are a number of repetitive tasks carried out on site that require a high degree of precision and consistency. Using robots not only helps to accelerate the construction process, but it can also reduce health and safety risks, by allowing them to undertake hazardous tasks while workers monitor their progress remotely. It is unlikely that robots will replace people entirely, but with skills shortages causing disruption for many building projects, they could prove valuable, especially with demand for homes increasing. For example, robots can build the walls of a home directly from CAD models, ensuring speed and precision. Automated technologies have to go
through a rigorous testing process, but project teams and client stakeholders may take more convincing before they will trust cutting-edge technologies. Specifi cally contractors and developers may have concerns about the long-term stability of buildings created by robots, with the results yet to have stood the test of time. Risk is a major part of the construction industry, and as such it can be slow to embrace change. Access is another key application issue.
30 June 2022 | Automation
Robots may work well on new-build developments, where there is plenty of open space, but completing renovations amongst existing homes could be diffi cult, particularly if tracks need to be laid for robots to move along.
Nevertheless, innovation is key to the evolution of every industry, and new technology is currently being developed to meet the needs of the construction sector. For example, Construction Automation’s Automatic Brick Laying Robot (ABLR) runs on a track laid around the foundations of a building, to lay bricks, blocks and mortar. Independent arms with a brick-gripping attachment and mortar nozzle enable bricks and mortar to be laid simultaneously, and an intelligent control system allows walls to be constructed directly from digitised versions of the architect’s plans. This innovation was recently approved by the National House Building Council (NHBC), which means it can be used to build new homes covered by an NHBC warranty.
Skanska’s patented construction robot, for example, manufactures reinforced structures on site with its fl exible jaws that switch between gripping a reinforcing bar and tying them together. Cobots are robots that work together but also alongside humans. For example, while the person takes care of the task that they are highly skilled in, the robot handles repetitive
or dangerous tasks associated with it. Of course, there are many safety considerations when robots start to work amongst humans, but that is the purpose of innovation. Hence, patents are key in this dynamic and inventive area: providing up to 20 years of commercial protection, obtaining a patent early on enables innovators to secure market share, while blocking competitors from reverse engineering or copying their solutions. Yet, patenting too early could shorten the commercial window of the innovation, with construction robots having to go through a lengthy testing process before they are deemed safe for use. However, waiting too long gives competitors the opportunity to patent fi rst, potentially wasting the upfront investment of time and money in the product’s development. Deciding when to fi le a patent application
requires careful consideration, but, on the whole, the best advice is the sooner the better. Innovators should keep in mind that a patent can only be granted if the details of the innovation have been kept secret until the patent was fi led, so any trials or pilot projects must take place behind closed doors.
CONTACT:
Withers & Rogers
www.withersrogers.com
automationmagazine.co.uk
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