Robots have been increasingly involved in global construction and are considered one of the most promising solutions for the reform of the construction industry. The superiority of the robotic construction process compared to the present stage of actual construction with predominantly human participation is mainly reflected in the high efficiency and high accuracy of its construction, thus improving the benefits to the natural, economic, and social environment and significantly changing the current construction labor market. At present, the development and application of robotic construction technology worldwide are mostly at the laboratory stage and are not applied to actual construction projects on a large scale. In this paper, we explore the methods and steps of robotic involvement in the construction of a complete timber building through the reconstruction of a completed timber building, from the design process and construction process to the final evaluation of construction efficiency. Finally, by comparing the advantages and disadvantages of the two design and construction methods, manual construction and robotic construction, the problems and difficulties in current robotic construction and the opportunities and challenges faced by robotic automation in the construction industry are identified.
The current construction industry faces many challenges, such as low productivity, low material application rates, and poor environmental benefits. Robotic and automated construction (RAAC) technologies represent a breakthrough from traditional construction methods and are considered an effective way to improve productivity, ecological efficiency, and sustainability in the construction industry. However, the high cost of research and development and the lack of investment in the construction field have discouraged Chinese construction companies from innovating. In this paper, an evolutionary game model between the government, construction firms, and public universities is constructed around the choice of RAAC innovation, and the evolutionary stabilization strategy (ESS) of the three parties is discussed. Establishing a compound incentive policy of financial and reputational rewards and increasing the share of RAAC scores in academic evaluations can accelerate the realization of ESS among the government, construction companies, and public universities. This study informs policymakers to develop RAAC innovation strategies, and stakeholders such as the government, construction companies, and public universities should consider and jointly promote the development and application of RAAC technologies to improve productivity and environmental sustainability in the construction industry.
Robotic construction is a powerful means of addressing labor shortages, low productivity, and low sustainability in the construction industry. Even though construction robots have attracted attention in research and practice, in a market condition where the technology and industry scale of the construction industry is yet unable to meet the scale of full automation, human–robot interaction (HRI) is a more adaptable working model. It is crucial to change the level of automation to the level of cooperation. This paper proposes an HRI construction method that aims to provide a new idea for existing robotic construction research, which combines the advantages of manual construction and automated robotic construction. This construction method allows an inexperienced layman to quickly complete the construction of complex timber structures with the assistance of a robot. Furthermore, this automated construction method's advantages, limitations, and potential pitfalls and the environmental, economic, and social sustainability aspects of design, production, and construction are also considered, providing a technical reference for the sustainable development of China's construction industry.
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