Construction Robot Feedback Control for Building Part Deviations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Construction robots face limitations in autonomy and productivity due to manual intervention required for handling deviations from planned construction conditions, such as misalignments and tolerance errors, which restrict their ability to work unattended and efficiently on construction sites.

Innovation Solution

A method where a construction robot detects the actual state of a building part, selects or manufactures components based on this state, and adjusts their arrangement to accommodate deviations from the planned state, allowing for increased autonomy and reduced manual intervention by selecting components with adapted dimensions and fastening points, and updating the BIM model to reflect the actual conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If construction robots strictly follow the BIM model plan for component placement, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but adaptability to actual construction deviations deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent placement precisionVSAvoidadaptability to construction deviations
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously detects the actual state of building parts during construction and feeds this information back to the control unit, which then adjusts component selection and placement parameters in real-time to accommodate deviations from the BIM model while maintaining precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adapts the construction plan by selecting from multiple alternative components with different parameters (dimensions, fastening point positions) based on detected actual conditions, allowing flexible response to construction deviations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual intervention is provided for handling construction deviations, then adaptability to actual conditions improves, but productivity deteriorates due to interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling of construction deviationsVSAvoidconstruction work efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The construction robot autonomously detects construction deviations, selects appropriate alternative components, and adjusts placement parameters without requiring manual intervention, thereby maintaining both adaptability and continuous productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple alternative components with different parameters are pre-prepared and stored in the component database before construction begins, enabling the robot to quickly select and deploy appropriate alternatives when deviations are detected

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If tolerance errors accumulate across multiple building elements, then manufacturing precision is maintained individually, but overall construction accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindividual component precisionVSAvoidoverall construction accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system detects the cumulative effect of tolerance errors on the overall construction state and uses this feedback to adjust subsequent component selections and placement parameters, compensating for accumulated deviations to maintain overall accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4431249A1Method and system for performing construction work
Publication Date: 2024.09.18 HILTI AG
  • EP4431249A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4431249A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4431249A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method (1000) for carrying out construction work by a construction robot (10), wherein a construction robot (10) positions a building component (115) on a building part (112). To enable a process with minimal interruption and thus the most autonomous operation possible for the construction robot (10), it is proposed that the method (1000) comprises the following steps: detecting the current state of the building part (112), selecting a building component (115) from a plurality of different building components (115) and/or manufacturing the building component (115) based on the current state of the building part (112), and positioning the building component (115) on the building part (112) by a construction robot (10). Furthermore, the invention also relates to a construction robot (10) configured to carry out the method (1000).