Digital Component Fabrication Tracking for Construction Progress

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Solution Overview

Problem

The construction process is fragmented and lacks efficient automation, leading to inaccuracies in tracking progress and calculating percentage completion, as multiple parties interpret and execute design plans without a unified system for data extraction, fabrication, and installation monitoring.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing a computing device to extract details from an electronic design model, control fabrication processes, and track component installation, including modules for interpretation, identification, and configuration, enabling accurate percentage completion calculations by comparing installed components to the design model.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple parties manually interpret and execute design plans without a unified system, then each party can independently perform their tasks, but the construction process becomes fragmented and tracking accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependence of partiesVSAvoidtracking accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple independent parties' workflows into a unified digital construction management system. The system integrates design model interpretation, fabrication tracking, and installation monitoring into a single coordinated platform, allowing all parties to work independently while maintaining synchronized data exchange and unified progress tracking through digital identifiers and real-time updates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Device complexity

If traditional manual monitoring methods are used for progress tracking, then implementation complexity remains low, but measurement precision and reliability of percentage completion calculations deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidprogress tracking accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical monitoring methods with an automated digital system. The system uses electronic design models, digital identifiers, and automated data exchange to track construction progress, eliminating the need for manual estimation and calculation while significantly improving measurement precision and reliability of percentage completion data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If a unified automated system is implemented for data extraction and tracking, then measurement precision and productivity improve, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetracking accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal digital construction management system that performs multiple functions: extracting data from electronic design models, tracking fabrication processes, monitoring installation progress, and calculating percentage completion. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate systems, improving precision while managing complexity through integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables automatic data extraction and tracking without requiring manual intervention at each stage. The electronic design model automatically provides data for fabrication, digital identifiers automatically track components through the supply chain, and the system automatically calculates progress, reducing the need for complex manual coordination while maintaining high precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Ease of operation

If manual estimation methods are used for percentage completion, then ease of operation is maintained, but reliability and loss of information increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational simplicityVSAvoidcompletion calculation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous feedback loops where the system automatically collects data from fabrication and installation stages, compares actual progress against the electronic design model, and updates percentage completion calculations in real-time. This automated feedback mechanism eliminates manual estimation errors while maintaining ease of operation through centralized automated management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11269310B2Fabrication and tracking
Publication Date: 2022.03.08 GREENLEE TEXTRON INC
  • US11269310B2 patent drawing
  • US11269310B2 patent drawing
  • US11269310B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method of fabrication for a component to be installed in a facility, the facility being represented by an electronic design model, the method including extracting, at a computing device and from the model, details of the component and controlling a plurality of stations with the computing device to fabricate and track the component.