Drones and the Future of Construction of Buildings
Overview The construction industry is tipped for a revolution driven by drone technology, with the industry set to reap significant benefits from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Currently, statistics suggest that the global market for drones in construction is expected to reach over USD 4.8 billion by 2024, growing at a CAGR of 15.4% from 2019. In the future, drones are anticipated to perform a myriad of tasks including site inspections, 3D modeling, and even construction itself, significantly reducing costs and increasing productivity. The new safety software being developed by 3Laws Robotics can be a key component in this revolution, enhancing drone safety and reliability while easing certification hurdles.
Uptake and Market Growth Increasingly, construction companies are recognizing the benefits of drones, prompting faster industry uptake. The global market for drones in this industry was valued at USD 1.37 billion in 2019 and is expected to hit USD 4.8 billion by 2024, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 15.4%. Fueling this unprecedented surge is the drones' ability to improve workplace safety and efficiency.
Drones in Site Inspections and Surveillance Drones are particularly useful in construction site inspections and surveillance, as they can access areas where it's dangerous or challenging for workers. A PwC study found that drones could reduce the time taken for stockpile measurement by 60%. Moreover, drones fitted with high-resolution cameras or thermal imaging technology may help prevent theft and vandalism on-site.
Drones in 3D modeling Integrating drones with Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology potentially transforms architectural design and construction. With drones capable of generating accurate 3D models of a site within hours, architectural firms can save as much as 75% on mapping costs. These aerial images can be turned into valuable data, enabling analysts to create precise construction plans and topography maps.
Drones in Construction While still not widely implemented, drones have the potential to revolutionize the actual construction process itself. The first experiment of a 3D printed building was implemented by UAV in 2015 by the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC). It won't be surprising if, in the future, 40% of total constructions will be executed by these automated machines.
Key Takeaways - The global market for drones in construction is expected to surpass USD 4.8 billion by 2024. - Drones can reduce the time taken for stockpile measurement by 60%, augmenting efficiency significantly. - Implementing drones alongside BIM technology can cut mapping costs by up to 75%. - In the near future, drones could be responsible for constructing 40% of all buildings.
3Laws Robotics: Revolutionizing Drone Safety in Construction As drone usage expands in the construction sector, a need for safer, more reliable technology becomes imperative. To address these needs, 3Laws Robotics is developing sophisticated software aimed at improving drone safety and reliability in tough environments.
The 3Laws Supervisor is built on Control Barrier Functions, a technology developed at Caltech, and claims to provide mathematically provable safety. It’s a solution that minimizes downtime caused by unnecessary e-stops or collisions and enhances operational efficiency.
From warehouse automation, where our solution aided in achieving a 40% efficiency gain, to human-robot interaction and dynamic environments, 3Laws Supervisor offers a wide range of applications. Compatible with widely used robotics middleware, such as ROS and ROS2, the software can be incorporated into various platforms including mobile robots, cars, drones, and manipulators.
3Laws Robotics is more than just a traditional safety measure. It's a proactive, dynamic, and predictive solution, designed to unlock the full potential of drones in construction. Our software can be safety certified for ISO 3691-4 and ISO 26262, thereby overcoming a significant hurdle faced by our clients in the drone and robotics sector.