Modular Bricklaying Units Using Digital Site Positioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The construction industry faces challenges with negative productivity growth, increased labor costs, and labor shortages, particularly in masonry, due to limited skilled labor and the inefficiency of existing bricklaying robots that are often expensive, inflexible, and unable to operate effectively outdoors or alongside human workers.
Innovation Solution
A modular bricklaying system with a control system and work units that use high-precision digital representations of the building site and work units to guide the placement of bricks, allowing for flexible movement and operation without fixed guiding systems, enabling multiple work units to work together and integrate seamlessly with human labor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If traditional bricklaying robots are used, then automation is achieved, but they are expensive, large, and lack versatility
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into independent work units (mortar application units, bricklaying units, brick supply units) that can be selectively deployed. Each unit performs a specific function and can operate independently or in coordination with others, allowing the system to be scaled and adapted to different project requirements without requiring a complete, expensive robotic system.
Solution Approach 2:
The work units are designed with universal interfaces and communication protocols that allow them to be used across different building projects and configurations. The modular architecture enables the same basic units to serve multiple functions depending on how they are deployed and configured, increasing versatility without requiring specialized expensive equipment for each task.
2Manufacturing precision
If fixed guiding systems are used, then positioning precision is improved, but setup complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical guiding structures with a digital representation-based positioning system. Work units use sensors, cameras, and communication modules to determine their positions and orientations relative to the building site and each other, eliminating the need for physical rails, guides, and alignment mechanisms while maintaining positioning precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates and uses a digital representation (digital twin) of the building site and work units. This virtual model allows for precise positioning and coordination without requiring physical guiding structures. The digital model can be updated in real-time as work progresses, maintaining accuracy without additional mechanical complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If specialized bricks and glue are used, then bricklaying precision is improved, but system adaptability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses adjustable parameters in its digital representation and control algorithms to adapt to different brick sizes, shapes, and materials. Rather than requiring specialized bricks, the system can modify its positioning targets, mortar application parameters, and laying patterns through software configuration, maintaining precision across various brick types without hardware changes.
Data Source
AI summary
A modular bricklaying system comprises a control system and work unit(s). A method comprises receiving or determining reference marker(s) associated with a digital representation of a building site that keep the same position relative to the building site during building; receiving or determining digital representations of the work unit(s), a building plan defining a target position and laying order for each brick, and an initial position for some bricks; receiving position and pose information from one work unit, relative to the reference markers or the building site, and updating the digital representation of the work unit and the building site based on the received position and pose information; transmitting, by the control system, commands configuring the work unit(s) to apply mortar and lay bricks based on the digital representation of the building site and respective work units, the initial position of some of the bricks and building plan.