Mobile robot unit for cooperative digital fabrication in construction

• Subject Area: Construction Engineering and Architecture
• Term: from 2020 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 442517735

The major research instrumentation RoboCoop3D is a unit consisting of two mobile robots which act together cooperatively or integratively with other mobile or stationary robots. The two robots of the RoboCoop3D unit are characterized by different payload ranges (> 150 kg or < 20 kg) and are to be used in different functions.The mobility of robots can significantly expand the spectrum of digital fabrication in the construction industry - on the one hand with regard to the establishment of digital manufacturing processes in-situ on the construction site or on existing structures, on the other hand with regard to the expansion of the degrees of freedom of digital fabrication processes in the plant.The establishment of digital in-situ fabrication processes will enable the digital chain from digital planning (BIM) to digital manufacturing (e.g. additive manufacturing in factory or in-situ) to digital assembly on the construction site to be completely closed in the future. In addition to the production of new components or structures, mobile robots also open up promising possibilities with regard to the subsequent strengthening and repair of existing structures.In this context, the applicants see three decisive application scenarios, which are to be researched in the future in three corresponding working groups:WG1 Adaptive additive in-situ manufacturing in constructionWG2 Cooperative digital multi-system construction processesWG3 Robot-assisted, force-flow optimized strengthening and repairThe primary goal of all working groups is to develop the scientific and technical basis for mobile digital fabrication in civil engineering. In contrast to previous approaches to digital fabrication in the building industry, which are predominantly aimed at stationary production in precast factories, the goal of the major research instrumentation RoboCoop3D is to address the fundamentals of digital manufacturing processes on building sites with significantly increased degrees of local freedom in future research activities. Special focus will be placed on adaptive material and process control in additive processes, hybrid in-situ manufacturing processes, force flow optimized additive in-situ manufacturing, cooperative processes, human-robot interaction as well as robotic repair and strengthening. The synergies of the listed working groups create the potential for the establishment of automated, intelligent and ressource-efficient processes in new buildings as well as the strengthening and repair of existing structures. RoboCoop3D will point the way for a future-oriented mobile robot-assisted fabrication.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Mobile Robotereinheit für die kooperative digitale Fertigung im Bauwesen
• Instrumentation Group: 2320 Greif- und Hebewerkzeuge, Verladeeinrichtungen
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität Braunschweig
• Leader: Professor Dr.-Ing. Dirk Lowke