At the start of last month, Skanska UK was awarded a government grant of over €700,000 to test and develop robots beginning this October (2015). The company plans to develop robots both for on-site and off-site construction use. Their research department will begin scoping out potential areas for automation and then create the technologies to automate the processes.
Skanska plans to have their robots perform multiple tasks, such as cutting, drilling, and fixing. With the collaboration of multiple partners, including ABB Robotics, the Building Research Establishment, Tekla UK and others, the team plans to change the dynamics of how the process of construction is executed.
Sam Stacey, Skanska’s Head of Innovation said,
“We are delighted to have been awarded this grant. Robotics in construction is an unknown field and provides great opportunities. A robot to drill and fix to the underside of slabs, for example, would eliminate a lot of work at height in dusty, noisy environments.”
There are many doubts from the construction community as to how much of a role robotics will play in the industry, but Skanska, one among many, seems to believe that robotics is the future of construction
This news is no surprise as this past year has featured strides in advancements for robotics in construction. The industry has been undergoing rigorous and rapid changes with the influx of new innovations, and here are some ways technology has made some big changes this year:
- Brick Building Robots Significantly Cut Time Spent on Laying Bricks
- 3D Printing Robot Builds & Prints Steel to form a Bridge in Amsterdam
- Contour Crafting Aims to 3D Print a House On-Site in Under 24 Hours
- Drones Are Taking Over Construction Sites & Automating
- Robotic Superintendents Appear On-Site
- Automated Tunnel Inspecting Robots Take on Dangerous Tasks
- Concrete Laying Robots Roll in
- Tappan Zee Construction Bring in Robotic Welders On-Site
That’s not even scratching the surface of robotics in construction! It will be exciting to follow Skanska this year and next to see what big changes are coming for robotics and construction. Still don’t think robots are going to play a role in the industry? Think again, because they already are.
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