Robotic Assembly of Segmented Mass Timber Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
The construction of multi-storey buildings using mass timber lacks automation, as existing methods are limited by the heavy and rigid nature of mass timber components, which are beyond the capabilities of manual labor, and current automation is not adaptable to different building designs or scales.
Innovation Solution
An automated and flexible method using industrial robots to assemble mass timber structural panels, comprising a bottom segmented layer, an interstitial layer, and a top segmented layer, with robots performing picking, gluing, and nailing operations on a horizontal assembly table, allowing for the production of panels that can vary in dimensions and design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual assembly methods are used for mass timber structural panels, then flexibility to accommodate different building designs is maintained, but productivity and efficiency are insufficient due to the heavy and rigid nature of mass timber components
Solution Approach 1:
The mass timber structural panel is divided into multiple subpanels that are assembled together. This segmentation allows robotic systems to handle individual lighter subpanels rather than the entire heavy panel at once, enabling automation while maintaining assembly efficiency for large-scale components
Solution Approach 2:
Connection elements such as splines and fasteners are introduced as intermediaries to join subpanels together. These intermediaries enable robotic picking, placing, gluing, and nailing operations on manageable components that are then assembled into the complete structural panel, bridging the gap between automation capabilities and mass timber assembly requirements
2Extent of automation
If existing automation equipment is used for timber frame walls, then lightweight dimensional lumber assembly is automated, but the system cannot handle heavy and rigid mass timber components at multi-storey scale
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic assembly system is designed with universal capabilities to perform multiple operations (picking, placing, gluing, nailing) on various mass timber components. The system can accommodate different building designs and scales by adjusting parameters for connection elements and panel configurations, making the automation adaptable rather than design-specific
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic adjustment of assembly parameters including connection element types, panel dimensions, and robotic operation sequences. This allows the same automated system to flexibly handle different mass timber panel configurations for various building designs while maintaining high automation levels
Data Source
AI summary
An automated method and system for manufacturing prefabricated mass timber floor and wall panels, where one or more robots are utilised to assemble (through a combination of picking/placing, gluing and nailing) building parts into a structural panel on an assembly table. A flexible and adaptable method for manufacturing prefabricated mass timber structural panels of different dimensions and make-up. The structural panels comprise a top segmented skin consisting of a number of subpanels, an interstitial layer consisting of a number of interstitial ribs, and a bottom segmented skin consisting of a number of subpanels; the subpanels of one or both layers are connected by glued splines connections and by nailing to the overlapping interstitial ribs.