Robotic Ceiling Drilling with Vibration and Dust Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Construction site workers face challenges with manual drilling in ceilings and walls due to labor-intensive marking, accuracy issues, high vibration, and dust creation, particularly with heavy rotary hammers, which can be cumbersome and hazardous.
Innovation Solution
A robotic drilling apparatus equipped with a lightweight robotic arm, a lifting mechanism, and a control unit that uses BIM files for precise drilling operations, along with a vibration-reducing assembly and dust collection system, allowing autonomous drilling with reduced operator intervention and improved safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a robotic drilling apparatus is used to improve drilling accuracy and reduce manual labor, then manufacturing precision and ease of operation are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic drilling apparatus is divided into distinct functional modules: a robotic arm for positioning, a drilling device for hole creation, a control unit for automation, a vibration reducing assembly for stability, and a dust collection system for environmental control. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary between the robotic arm and drilling device, coordinating their movements to achieve precise drilling operations. The control unit processes positioning data and translates it into coordinated robotic arm movements and drilling actions, ensuring high manufacturing precision while managing system complexity through centralized control.
2Power
If heavy rotary hammers are used to drill through concrete ceilings, then drilling power is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to weight and vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration reducing assembly incorporates counterbalancing mechanisms that offset the vibrations generated by the rotary hammer during drilling operations. This reduces the transmission of harmful vibrations to the robotic arm and ultimately to the operator, maintaining ease of operation while preserving the high drilling power needed for concrete ceilings.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual operation with an automated robotic arm that positions and operates the drilling device. This substitution eliminates the need for operators to directly handle heavy equipment, transferring the physical burden to the robotic system while maintaining drilling effectiveness.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If dust collection collars or shrouds are added to reduce dust, then harmful factors are reduced, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dust collection system is integrated with the existing drilling apparatus structure, combining the vacuum collection functionality with the robotic arm and drilling device. This merging approach reduces overall system complexity compared to adding a separate dust collection system, while effectively capturing dust at the source.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic arm serves multiple functions: positioning the drilling device, controlling drilling operations, and coordinating with the dust collection system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby managing device complexity while maintaining effective dust reduction capabilities.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If vibration damping technology is added to reduce vibrations, then harmful factors are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration reducing assembly is designed to cushion vibrations before they propagate through the robotic arm. By placing damping elements strategically in the force transmission path, the system attenuates vibrations at their source, protecting the robotic arm and reducing harmful effects while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic drilling apparatus is described which has been adapted for drilling holes in ceilings and walls on a construction site. The apparatus (100) comprises a robotic arm (110) mounted to a substructure (112), the substructure comprising a lifting mechanism arranged to lift the robotic arm to a working position, wherein the robotic arm has a base end (110a) and a movable end (110b), the base end being mounted to an upper surface (114) of the lifting mechanism and the movable end being capable of movement with respect to the base end in a three dimensional space, wherein the robotic drilling apparatus further comprises a mount (120) provided on the movable end for holding a drilling device (122) and a control unit (134) for controlling the operation of the robotic arm. The lifting mechanism preferably comprises a scissor-jack lifting platform. The robotic arm (110) and any support structure (134) for the robotic arm weighs less than 43 kg, and preferably individually weigh less than 23 kg.