Robots and the Future of Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors
Overview
The future of foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors is increasingly being influenced by robotics technology. With advancements in robotics, the construction industry is set for a transformation that champions efficiency, safety, and reliability, all of which are hallmarks of robotic systems such as those developed by 3Laws.
Current Industry Overview
Currently, over 259,000 foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors are already leveraging robotics technology in the United States. The Global Construction Robotics Market was valued at $2.36 billion in 2018 and is expected to see a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.7% from 2019 to 2026, highlighting the rapid increase in the integration of robotics in construction.
Impact of Robotics on Efficiency and Safety
The efficiency and safety-enhancing values of robotics in building construction are marked. For example, robotic bricklayers have demonstrated the ability to lay up to 3,000 bricks per day compared to a human bricklayer’s 500 bricks per day, a stunning 600% increase in productivity. Furthermore, robots help to mitigate safety concerns, reducing labour-intensive and dangerous tasks. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 5,333 workers died on the job in 2019, with falls, being struck by an object, or operating heavy machinery being the prominent causes - risks that could be minimized through effective robotic intervention.
The Future of Robots in Construction Contracting
The imminent presence of robotic technology in the world of foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors is now more certain than ever. As per the robotics market forecast, by 2025, 22% of construction tasks — site preparation, demolition, and foundation laying — could be performed by robots. The shift is likely to usher in a new era of unprecedented precision in measurements, calculations, and execution of tasks.
Key Takeaways
- Robotics is rapidly revolutionizing the construction industry with over 259,000 contractors leveraging this technology in the U.S. alone.
- The Global Construction Robotics Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 23.7% from 2019 to 2026.
- Robotic systems can dramatically enhance efficiency - as demonstrated by the capability of a robotic bricklayer compared to its human counterpart.
- Increased robotic intervention can significantly minimize workplace accidents, improving worker safety within the construction industry.
- By 2025, up to 22% of construction tasks could be undertaken by robots, altering the landscape of the construction industry significantly.
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3Laws Robotics
With its innovative software, 3Laws Robotics is aptly positioned to facilitate and support these evolving industry paradigms. Designed to improve safety and ensure greater reliability, the 3Laws Supervisor software aids in streamlining the certification process for robotic systems. Constructed on the Control Barrier Functions (CBFs) technology developed at Caltech, 3Laws's software also showcases robust safety features that guarantee system robustness.
3Laws' solutions have demonstrated their potential with autonomous solutions like warehouse automation, enhancing efficiency by up to 40%. The software also allows for safe human-robot interaction, making it ideal for collaborative robotics solutions. 3Laws' superior reactive collision avoidance capability empowers robots to operate effectively in dynamic environments.
3Laws continues to expand operational efficiency by minimizing downtime resulting from unnecessary emergency stops or collisions. By establishing real-time operational parameters for autonomy stacks, 3Laws enhances the overall potential of a wide range of robots including mobile robots, cars, drones, and manipulators. The software is also compatible with popular robotics middleware such as ROS and ROS2.
In essence, 3Laws Robotics moves beyond conventional safety systems, offering dynamic, predictive safety that meets standards for ISO 3691-4 and ISO 26262, thus promising the full potential of robotics in the industry.