Wearable Guidance System for Automated Construction Supervision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional manual construction operations are inefficient due to the need for extensive supervision and communication by foremen, especially in larger projects, and the integration of crowd-sourced workers increases the workload without providing proportional benefits due to the lack of training and quality control.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented system that uses wearable guidance systems and LED nodes to provide real-time instructions and visual guidance to workers, allowing them to perform tasks independently with minimal training and without direct human supervision, by transmitting instructions through mobile devices and utilizing a coordination engine to manage tasks and worker locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If crowd-sourced workers are employed to increase labor supply, then productivity increases, but the supervisory burden on foremen increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a wearable guidance system as an intermediary between the foreman and crowd-sourced workers. The system includes a mobile computing device worn by the worker that receives instructions from the foreman's device, automatically tracks task completion through sensor data, and manages worker eligibility for tasks. This intermediary automates the supervision function, allowing the foreman to manage multiple workers without proportional increases in supervisory burden.
2Ease of manufacture
If unskilled workers are used to reduce training costs, then ease of hiring improves, but manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable guidance system enables unskilled workers to perform complex tasks independently through real-time instructions and guidance provided directly to their mobile device. The system monitors worker location, task progress, and completion status automatically, providing step-by-step directions without requiring worker expertise or constant foreman intervention. This self-service capability allows unskilled workers to maintain high task completion quality.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual supervision is used to ensure task quality, then manufacturing precision improves, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automatic feedback loops where sensors on the construction site continuously monitor task progress and worker location. This data is transmitted to the wearable guidance system, which automatically confirms task completion and updates worker eligibility status. The foreman receives real-time notifications without needing to physically verify each task, maintaining quality control while eliminating time-consuming manual supervision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient management and supervision of construction projects by allowing unskilled workers to perform complex tasks with little training, reducing the supervisory burden and maximizing the benefits of crowd-sourced labor.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting to a light-emitting device a command to provide a visual indicator to the worker that facilitates performing the first task
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for performing tasks associated with a construction project. The technique includes transmitting to a worker, via a mobile computing device worn by the worker, a first instruction related to performing a first task included in a plurality of tasks associated with a construction project, and transmitting to a light-emitting device a command to provide a visual indicator to the worker that facilitates performing the first task, based on an input received from the mobile computing device, determining that the worker has completed the first task of the construction project, selecting, from a database that tracks eligibility of each of the plurality of tasks, a second task included in the plurality of tasks that the worker is eligible to perform, and transmitting to the worker, via the mobile computing device, a second instruction related to performing the second task.