Robotic Smart Panel Assembly for Faster Green Building Construction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing green building process requires significant collaboration among contractors, architects, and engineers, and there is a need for systems that can efficiently integrate renewable energy sources and reduce the complexity of installing and maintaining building subsystems.
Innovation Solution
A modular robotic building system using smart panels (LunarPanels) that can be assembled by robots, incorporating interlocking subsystems and mechanisms like solenoids and smart glass, allowing for rapid construction and integration of electrical, mechanical, and other systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional green building processes are used with collaboration among contractors, architects, and engineers, then building quality and sustainability are improved, but construction time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The building is divided into modular smart panels that can be independently manufactured and then assembled. Each panel is a self-contained module with integrated subsystems, allowing parallel production and rapid assembly, thus reducing construction time while maintaining quality through standardized manufacturing processes
Solution Approach 2:
The smart panels incorporate self-assembling capabilities with built-in sensors, actuators, and control systems that enable automatic alignment, connection, and system integration during construction. This reduces the need for extensive manual labor and coordination, accelerating the building process while ensuring quality through automated precision
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple interconnected subsystems are integrated into each smart panel, then building functionality and efficiency are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each smart panel is designed as a universal module that can perform multiple functions through integrated subsystems including electrical wiring, plumbing, HVAC, lighting, and renewable energy systems. This multi-functionality allows the same basic module to serve different purposes in various building configurations, enhancing versatility without requiring separate specialized components for each function
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple subsystems are nested within each smart panel module, with smaller functional components contained within the larger panel structure. This hierarchical organization allows complex functionality to be achieved while maintaining a standardized external interface, managing complexity through structured integration of subsystems
3Productivity
If robotic assembly systems are used to install smart panels, then construction speed and precision are improved, but initial cost and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Traditional manual mechanical assembly processes are replaced with robotic systems that use automated positioning, sensing, and actuation mechanisms. The robots can precisely manipulate smart panels, perform connections, and integrate subsystems automatically, dramatically increasing construction speed and precision while reducing labor requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The smart panels themselves serve as intermediaries that simplify the robotic assembly process. Their standardized interfaces, built-in sensors, and self-alignment features act as mediators between the robotic system and the final building structure, making the assembly process more manageable despite the complexity of the robotic systems
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method is provided for designing and constructing a building or structure using a modular robotic building system and smart panels, referred to herein as LunarPanels, having tube frames. The system may employ a robot that can move and install interconnected modular LunarPanels, thereby installing the panels in the correct position within a design. Each LunarPanel and tube frames will accommodate many interconnected systems (subsystems) within it through its internal infrastructure to enable and transport things like water, light, electricity, air, sewage, steam, heat, audio/sound, gas, oil, refrigerant, computer networking and data. By interconnecting the LunarPanels together, preferably robotically, one can efficiently and quickly create a finished building or structure.