A new approach to the design of buildings for automated construction

Decreasing productivity from an ageing workforce, and a rising number of injuries suggest that robots could be used to enhance or replace human beings on building sites. While past research concentrated on the automation of current construction tasks, this work argues that building processes must be re-designed to suit robotics, flexible manufacturing (FMS), and computer-aided design (CAD). Such an approach is necessary because the number of young people joining the industry is dwindling, while discerning clients are demanding buildings which cost less to erect and are easier to maintain. It is possible to rationalise the design and construction of a building, so that modern manufacturing techniques enhance the creativity of human designers. Robots are more effective if they handle solid rather than fluid materials, so industrialised building systems are ideal platforms for construction automation. Using this basic premise, a kit of parts was embodied in CAD software, and used to design high-tech offices of up to three storeys. Furthermore, the components strongly influenced the design of the automation systems required to handle them. This research explores the advantages of using component-based building systems to underpin efforts in construction automation. It is also shown that the principles of `Design for Automation' must be applied if current levels of productivity are to be maintained. Furthermore, the implementation of off-site automation (in the form of Computer-Aided Design and factory-based methods of production) is shown to be easier when dealing with well-defined component-based building systems. Finally, it is demonstrated that no efforts in construction automation can afford to de-couple on-site processes from those that happen off-site.