Robots are likely the multipurpose assistants for the construction industry

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Construction robots are gaining more popularity nowadays owing to their advantages such as high efficiency, reducing time, and minimizing worker shortage. The construction industry possesses a high accident rate and is considered one of the most dangerous industries. For instance, around 56 work accidents record annually per 1000 employees in France. The construction sector is responsible for almost 14% of all work accidents out of 19% are fatal accidents, and 16% of accidents lead to permanent impairment. Many construction companies employ robots for hazardous tasks on site to avoid these accidents. 

Many companies have already developed high-performance robots for repetitive tasks such as bricklaying, 3D printing of building materials, lumber cutting to standardized dimensions, drilling, sanding floors & walls, and road paving. In addition, many ready-to-use field robotics are already present in the market. For instance:

• Turner, a Manhattan-based company, launched a new robot, "Spot," that helps on construction sites in March 2022. It can do specific tasks in a site, including taking pictures, 3D laser scanning, detecting hazardous chemicals, and can enter into tight spaces that humans cannot reach.
• Canvas, a California-based construction robotics startup, launched a drywall-finishing robot in January 2022. The company's robotic machine addresses two major drywall finishing challenges: mudding and sanding by minimizing or eliminating the harsh working conditions. Moreover, it improves air quality by capturing 99.9% of dust produced in the sanding phase and minimizing the workers' risk of musculoskeletal injuries.
• Printstones, an Austrian startup, has launched a handy robot, "Baubot" in April 2021. It has a mobile robotic system that performs drilling, driving screws, welding, climbing stairs, laying bricks, sanding, and driving through doors for eight hours of operation. The company also developed two more bots, including one small on treads with a 40-inch arm and one with an 82-inch arm.
• Doxel, a California-based company's robots, uses artificial intelligence (AI) to scan daily project progress and generate reports showing existing problem areas compared with blueprints.
• A California-based Dusty Robotics's FieldPrinter can autonomously print a full-scale model directly on concrete in a fraction of its time for manual layout with chalk. It can print with accuracy down to one-sixteenth of an inch.
• Hilti Corporations' Jaibot helps in installation execution by marking and drilling holes, relieving construction workers from overhead drilling, and tracking project progress through data.

The construction industry is undoubtedly one ideal application for robots because constructing a building includes several repetitive tasks that can easily automate. Still, there are a few challenges to adopting robots in this space, including high initial and maintenance costs, lack of trained professionals, fear of adapting to technology, and space constraints for easy movement of robots. Companies already established in the construction industry and startups looking to enter the market can innovate multifunctional robots. Furthermore, several construction robotics startups are raising funds to utilize them in research, thus expanding their product range. 

To know more and gain a deeper understanding of the global construction market, click here.