Robotics-Assisted Foundation Column Positioning on Uneven Terrain
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Solution Overview
Problem
The construction industry faces challenges in achieving precise foundation column grid layouts on sites with topography or access obstacles, leading to increased costs without improved quality or durability, and there is a need for a system that leverages advances in pre-fabricated, offsite building techniques to facilitate faster, easier, and less expensive installation of offsite fabricated buildings on difficult build sites.
Innovation Solution
A robotics-assisted foundation installation system that uses live-streamed data from a total surveying station to a grid control system to precisely position column tops, allowing for global optimization of the column array by adjusting individual or ensemble movements of columns to achieve the required precision and alignment, even on uneven terrain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional construction methods are used on sites with topography or access obstacles, then construction costs increase, but manufacturing precision and quality do not improve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional manual surveying and positioning methods with an automated robotic system that uses computer vision and machine learning to achieve precise column grid layout. The system captures images of the construction site, processes them through neural networks to identify and locate columns, and automatically calculates positioning information, eliminating the need for manual measurement and positioning operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic system performs self-positioning and self-calibration by automatically capturing site images, processing them through the neural network to determine column locations, and calculating its own positioning information relative to the column grid. The system independently completes the entire positioning workflow without requiring continuous human intervention or complex external equipment setup.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual positioning methods are used to achieve precise column alignment, then time consumption increases, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system continuously captures images of the construction site and processes them through the neural network in real-time to determine column locations and calculate positioning information. This continuous automated operation eliminates the intermittent manual measurement and calculation steps, maintaining precise alignment while significantly reducing the overall time required for column installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary positioning calculations and column location identification automatically before the actual column installation begins. By pre-processing the site images and determining all positioning information in advance, the system eliminates time-consuming on-site adjustments and measurements during the installation process itself.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional construction methods are used on difficult build sites, then access and topography limitations prevent development, but adaptability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system is designed to be dynamically adaptable to various site conditions including difficult terrain and limited access. The system can navigate and operate in diverse environments, automatically adjusting its positioning and measurement approaches based on the specific site characteristics captured in the images, thereby maintaining precision across different site types.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes its operational parameters and measurement approaches based on the site conditions detected in the captured images. The neural network processes various site scenarios and adjusts the positioning calculations accordingly, allowing the system to maintain accurate column grid layout determination whether the site is flat or uneven, easily accessible or difficult to reach.
Data Source
AI summary
A robotics-assisted foundation installation system is provided in which data reporting the X, Y, and Z positions of foundation column tops are sent from a total surveying station to a grid control system. The grid control system receives the data and associates specific data with specific columns in an array—the “grid.” The grid control system compares the actual positions of the columns in the grid to target positions that were determined based on the requirements of the structure to be supported. After determining differences between the actual positions and the target positions, the grid control system sends instructions to column positioning tools associated with the individual columns. Actuators in a column positioning tool are directed by the grid control system to adjust the position of the associated column. Once the live streamed data confirms that each column is in the proper position, the columns are fixed in place.