Automated Construction - Reinforcement

Purpose and goal

The purpose of the project has been to develop a methodology to improve the productivity and working environment in the construction sector for a time critical activity, the installation of reinforcement. The basic idea was to use industrial robots for the installation work instead of installing the reinforcement manually, as today. The goal of the project was to fabricate reinforcement cages of different designs in a lab environment, at a scale of 1:2, using industrial robots that are controlled automatically using a digital model (3D BIM model) of each cage.

Expected results and effects

The project result consists of an automatic robotized reinforcement station. The station is fully automatic, i.e., it determines the installation order and the robotic movements required to install the rebars. This is done based on a digital model of the reinforcement cage. The expected effect of the project is to be able to prefabricate reinforcement to a greater extent and thus to improve construction productivity. At the same time, the working environment is also greatly improved because a large amount of heavy and strenuous work can be done by machines instead of manually, as today.

Planned approach and implementation

The project organization has consisted of Skanska, ABB, and Husqvarna. Robotdalen and Solving Robotics have been engaged as consultants. The project participants have competence in conducting research, construction, industrialization, robotics, mathematics, and computer science. All of these competencies have been necessary to achieve the intended project results. The project has been carried out in 4 work packages. Lab robot cell, digital models, path planning and demonstration. Focus has been demonstration in a lab environment (i.e., not only computer simulations).