@inproceedings{IturraldeFeuchtHuetal., author = {Iturralde, Kepa and Feucht, Malte and Hu, Rongbo and Pan, Wen and Schlandt, Marcel and Linner, Thomas and Bock, Thomas and Izard, Jean-Baptizste and Eskudero, Ibon and Rodriguez, Mariola and Gorrotxategi, Jose and Astudillo, Julen and Cavalcanti Santos, Jo{\~a}o. and Gouttefarde, Marc and Fabritius, Marc and Martin, Christoph and Henninge, Tomas and Stein, M. Nornes and Normes, Stein M. and Jacobsen, Yngve and Pracucci, Alessandro and Ca{\~n}ada, Jesus and Jimenez-Vicaria, Jose David and Paulotto, Carlo and Alonso, Rub{\´e}n and Elia, Lorenzo}, title = {A Cable Driven Parallel Robot with a Modular End Effector for the Installation of Curtain Wall Modules (Best Paper Award)}, series = {Proceedings of the 37th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (ISARC 2020): From Demonstration to Practical Use, To New Stage of Construction Robot, October 27-28, 2020, Kitakyushu, Japan}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the 37th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (ISARC 2020): From Demonstration to Practical Use, To New Stage of Construction Robot, October 27-28, 2020, Kitakyushu, Japan}, editor = {Tateyama, Kazuyoshi and Ishii, Kazuo and Inoue, Fumihiro}, publisher = {The International Association for Automation and Robotics in Construction (I.A.A.R.C.)}, isbn = {978-952-94-3634-7}, doi = {10.22260/ISARC2020/0204}, pages = {1472 -- 1479}, abstract = {The installation of curtain wall modules (CWMs) is a risky activity carried out in the heights and often under unfavorable weather conditions. CWMs are heavy prefabricated walls that are lifted normally with bindings and cranes. High stability is needed while positioning in order not to damage the fragile CWMs. Moreover, this activity requires high precision while positioning brackets, the modules, and for that reason, intensive survey and marking are necessary. In order to avoid such inconveniences, there were experiences to install fa{\c{c}}ade modules in automatic mode using robotic devices. In the research project HEPHAESTUS, a novel system has been developed in order to install CWMs automatically. The system consists of two subsystems: a cable driven parallel robot (CDPR) and a set of robotic tools named as Modular End Effector (MEE). The platform of the CDPR hosts the MEE. This MEE performs the necessary tasks of installing the curtain wall modules. There are two main tasks that the CDPR and MEE need to achieve: first is the fixation of the brackets onto the concrete slab, and second is the picking and placing of the CWMs onto the brackets. The first integration of the aforementioned system was carried out in a controlled environment that resembled a building structure. The results of this first test show that there are minor deviations when positioning the CDPR platform. In future steps, the deviations will be compensated by the tools of the MEE and the installation of the CWM will be carried out with the required accuracy automatically.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{HuLinnerWangetal., author = {Hu, Rongbo and Linner, Thomas and Wang, Suting and Cheng, Wenting and Liu, Xiaolong and G{\"u}ttler, J{\"o}rg and Zhao, Charlie and Lu, Yuan and Bock, Thomas}, title = {Towards a Distributed Intelligent Home Based on Smart Furniture for China's Aging Population}, series = {Proceedings of the 38th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (ISARC): 02.11.2021 - 04.11.2021, Dubai, United Arab Emirates}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the 38th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (ISARC): 02.11.2021 - 04.11.2021, Dubai, United Arab Emirates}, editor = {Feng, Chen and Linner, Thomas and Brilakis, Ioannis}, publisher = {International Association for Automation and Robotics in Construction (IAARC)}, isbn = {978-952-69524-1-3}, doi = {10.22260/ISARC2021/0008}, pages = {41 -- 48}, abstract = {Population aging is one of the major challenges facing the world. In particular, the advent of China's aging society caused by various factors will be a major threat to its future development. Therefore, serious measures need to be taken to achieve its demographic sustainability. Smart furniture can be considered as a novel subcategory of gerontechnology. One of the main outcomes of the EU-funded REACH project was a variety of smart furniture named Personalized Intelligent Interior Units (PI2Us) which served as the key component of a distributed intelligent home to promote the health and activity level of older adults. This outcome can potentially be a solution to mitigate the consequences caused by population aging. In order to understand the attitudes and opinions of Chinese older adults towards the relevant technologies, the authors conducted an opinion survey using the PI2Us as an example, which sampled more than 380 older adults in 26 out of 34 provincial-level administrative divisions of China. The survey showed that Chinese older adults in general have a highly positive attitude towards smart furniture and smart home technologies. Several other insights also can be revealed from the survey. Based on further analyses, the paper summarized why the elderly-oriented smart furniture and distributed intelligent home has the potential to thrive in China's market soon. Finally, a three-year project action plan for implementing localized solutions in cooperation with a large Chinese furniture manufacturer was presented.}, language = {en} } @incollection{LinnerHuIturraldeetal., author = {Linner, Thomas and Hu, Rongbo and Iturralde, Kepa and Bock, Thomas}, title = {A Procedure Model for the Development of Construction Robots}, series = {Innovation in Construction : a Practical Guide to Transforming the Construction Industry}, booktitle = {Innovation in Construction : a Practical Guide to Transforming the Construction Industry}, editor = {Ghaffar, Seyed Hamidreza and Mullett, Paul and Pei, Eujin and Roberts, John}, publisher = {SpringerNature}, address = {Berlin}, isbn = {978-3-030-95798-8}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-95798-8_14}, pages = {321 -- 352}, abstract = {Due to a constantly growing interest in construction robots, guidance on the design and management for its development process is needed to employ the best practice know-how and accelerate efficient development and marketisation. The development of construction robots usually involves stakeholders from the construction sector, non-construction sectors, and investors. A systematic design management method can help to integrate the needs and aims of different stakeholders and team members during the development process. Therefore, a procedure model for the development of construction robots is proposed as an integrative guidance on how to systematically conceptualise engineer requirements and to design, develop, implement, evaluate, manage, and mature the designs of construction robots. Several recent projects have been used by the authors to test and verify parts of the proposed cyclic method. In addition, the authors explain how the proposed model has been composed of an adapted set of proven principles and methodologies from the systems engineering and management field and highlight the specific concepts for developing and testing the construction robots. The application of the procedure model revealed that the concept and method are feasible and, in principle, can provide a comprehensive and practical guide on the steps forward. A unique characteristic of the proposed procedure model is the core principle which allows the evolvement over time with each cycle of use. In addition, interchangeable elements can be inserted into the procedure model depending on the region, type of robot, and technical readiness level.}, language = {en} } @incollection{IturraldePanLinneretal., author = {Iturralde, Kepa and Pan, Wen and Linner, Thomas and Bock, Thomas}, title = {Automation and robotic technologies in the construction context: research experiences in prefabricated fa{\c{c}}ade modules}, series = {Rethinking building skins : Transformative technologies and research trajectories}, booktitle = {Rethinking building skins : Transformative technologies and research trajectories}, editor = {Gasparri, Eugenia and Brambilla, Arianna and Lobaccaro, Gabriele and Goia, Francesco}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Cambridge, MA}, isbn = {9780128224779}, doi = {10.1016/B978-0-12-822477-9.00009-7}, pages = {475 -- 493}, abstract = {In recent years, there has been an increase in robots that perform activities in the built environment. In this chapter, projects were featured as case studies to demonstrate the potential of using automation and robotic technologies to facilitate building fa{\c{c}}ade installation tasks. The Building Energy Renovation Through Timber-Prefabricated Modules (BERTIM) and the Highly automatEd PHysical Achievements and performancES using cable roboTs Unique Systems (HEPHAESTUS) research projects consist of researching, developing and prototyping different automated solutions for the handling of building envelopes in various processes of the installation sequence. The BERTIM research project focuses on building envelope upgrading, automated building fa{\c{c}}ade manufacturing, while the HEPHAESTUS research project is focused on the cable-driven parallel robot for the installation of curtain wall modules. Both projects have proved the potential use of new technologies for the installation of prefabricated envelopes and reduced working time and costs during installation.}, language = {en} } @techreport{AndersenHenningBojeBardramMaxhunietal., author = {Andersen, Henning Boje, and Bardram, Jakob E. and Maxhuni, Alban and Larsen, Rasmus Tolstrup and Sch{\"a}pers Barbara, and Krewer, Carmen and Steinb{\"o}ck, Martina and Sprengel, D. and Linner, Thomas and Schlandt, Marcel and Kabouteh, Amir and G{\"u}ttler, J{\"o}rg and Hu, Rongbo and Lu, Yuan and Bock, Thomas}, title = {Detailed set of privacy guidelines and schemata: Summarization of the outcome of the development of necessary data privacy and security schemata to (1) protect sensed data; (2) ascertain computational anonymity; (3) ensure privileged intervention access}, abstract = {Deliverable D32: Detailed set of privacy guidelines and schemata Responsive Engagement of the Elderly promoting Activity and Customized Healthcare 2 Deliverable D32: Detailed set of privacy guidelines and schemata: Summarization of the outcome of the development of necessary data privacy and security schemata to (1) protect sensed data; (2) ascertain computational anonymity; (3) ensure privileged intervention access (associated with task T.7.5). Abstract: This deliverable report examines the outcomes of the REACH research project with regard to data privacy and data security, associated with Task T7.5. This document gives an overview of our analyses involving ethics and privacy concerns in terms of the individual touchpoints and shows how these findings guided the project towards the determination of the medical purpose and intended use-cornerstones to on the path to market entry. In addition, we provide a brief overview of how the guidelines regarding data protection and encryption influenced the technical design and implementation of project components. Furthermore, we provide an update on the management of legal implications (and the implications resulting from this for system requirements and business strategy) of the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence in the context of REACH solutions, incorporating an external expert opinion. Finally, this deliverable report contains a summary of our approach towards risk gov-ernance and standardization in this regard: our work in REACH on privacy and security schemata, culminated in a CEN Workshop Agreement (guideline) that generalizes REACH outcomes and makes them accessible and usable beyond the REACH consortium .}, language = {en} } @article{HuLinnerTrummeretal., author = {Hu, Rongbo and Linner, Thomas and Trummer, Julian and G{\"u}ttler, J{\"o}rg and Kabouteh, Amir and Langosch, Katharina and Bock, Thomas}, title = {Developing a Smart Home Solution Based on Personalized Intelligent Interior Units to Promote Activity and Customized Healthcare for Aging Society}, series = {Journal of Population Ageing: Special Issue on responsive engagement of older persons promoting activity and customized healthcare}, volume = {13}, journal = {Journal of Population Ageing: Special Issue on responsive engagement of older persons promoting activity and customized healthcare}, number = {1}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, doi = {10.1007/s12062-020-09267-6}, pages = {257 -- 280}, abstract = {The world's population is aging at an unprecedented pace. Aging society is not only a severe crisis in the developed world, but also a rigorous challenge in emerging economies. Many age-related diseases are fostered by the lack of physical, cognitive, and social activities. Increasing the activity level has many benefits for the elderly and can improve their independence. Based on the analysis of the state-of-the-art and shortcomings of the current smart home solutions, the EU-funded research project REACH aims to develop a service system that will turn clinical and care environments into personalized modular sensing, prevention, and intervention systems that encourage the elderly to become healthy through various activities. To achieve that goal, the research team developed a series of smart furniture (PI2Us) that materialize the research concepts and functionality seamlessly into the various environments. Specifically, the development process and the functionality testing results of the PI2Us are reported in detail. In addition, a simulated smart home solution concept (TRACK) integrating key assistive technologies developed is proposed to create a comprehensive interior living and care environment for elderly users. Due to its modularity and flexibility, the partial or entire solution can be easily adapted and rapidly deployed in different use case settings in Europe, which allows the project consortium to execute different testing activities. In the next phase, the research team will focus on enhancing the usability and performance of the prototypes in order to eventually push them to the market. In conclusion, this research provides an innovative smart home solution for the industry to mitigate the impact of aging society.}, language = {en} } @article{LinnerPanHuetal., author = {Linner, Thomas and Pan, Wen and Hu, Rongbo and Zhao, Charlie and Iturralde, Kepa and Taghavi, Meysam and Trummer, Julian and Schlandt, Marcel and Bock, Thomas}, title = {A technology management system for the development of single-task construction robots}, series = {Construction Innovation}, volume = {20}, journal = {Construction Innovation}, number = {1}, publisher = {Emerald}, doi = {10.1108/CI-06-2019-0053}, pages = {96 -- 111}, abstract = {Purpose: Because of the sharply growing interest worldwide of "hard" physical-mechanical robot systems for the execution of on-site construction tasks [i.e. single-task construction robots (STCRs)], the purpose of this study is to equip development projects with a systematic design-management system model that allows to integrate the different needs and aims of stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach: This paper proposes a STCR-technology management system (STCR-TMS) for the complete development cycle of STCR designs. The STCR-TMS is based on established principles from systems engineering and management and STCR-specific activities developed and tested by the authors as standalone elements in previous research work. Findings: The application of the STCR-TMS revealed the practicability of the method and the underlying concepts to provide practical guidance for the development process. Additional findings indicate that the method is sufficiently generic and flexible for application to different types of robots and indifferent world regions. This research has also shown that key activities need to be addressed to increase the practicability of the STCR-TMS. Originality/value:  A unique characteristic of this method is the evolution with each utilization cycle. In addition, individual elements are interchangeable and can be adapted based on external circumstances. These properties allow the TMS to be applied to other fields in construction robotics. With the progression of the verification and validation of the method, know-how and certain elements can be fed into standardization activities (e.g. establishing a management system standard).}, language = {en} } @article{PanLinnerPanetal., author = {Pan, Mi and Linner, Thomas and Pan, Wei and Cheng, Huimin and Bock, Thomas}, title = {Structuring the context for construction robot development through integrated scenario approach}, series = {Automation in Construction}, volume = {114}, journal = {Automation in Construction}, number = {June}, publisher = {Elsevier}, doi = {10.1016/j.autcon.2020.103174}, abstract = {The technological development of construction robots is underway globally. However, current development activities face significant uncertainties, particularly in terms of the definition and management of system requirements, which are primarily based on vague assumptions about the future. Thus, a new tool is required to grasp how construction robots—and their surrounding ecosystems—will be used. This research adopts an unprecedented scenario-based approach to develop and analyze future alternatives for construction robotics in a systematic manner. Hong Kong "toward 2035" is used as an initial test case, and four scenarios of the robot ecosystem, i.e., "Bottleneck," "Age of Iron Worker," "Dynamic Co-evolution of Robotization and Modularization," and "Rise of the Robots," are developed from evidence-based analysis. Scenarios highlight the crucial role of workers for construction robot utilization. Driving forces, opportunities, and challenges are identified for elaborating strategies under each scenario. The integrated scenario approach and findings lay an important foundation for systems engineering processes in construction robotics to develop a new tool for structuring system context and specifying system requirements.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{HuLinnerSchmailzletal., author = {Hu, Rongbo and Linner, Thomas and Schmailzl, Marc and G{\"u}ttler, J{\"o}rg and Lu, Yuan and Bock, Thomas}, title = {Exploring Gerontechnology for Aging-Related Diseases in Design Education: An Interdisciplinary Perspective}, series = {Proceedings of the 37th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (ISARC 2020): From Demonstration to Practical Use, To New Stage of Construction Robot, October 27-28, 2020, Kitakyushu, Japan}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the 37th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (ISARC 2020): From Demonstration to Practical Use, To New Stage of Construction Robot, October 27-28, 2020, Kitakyushu, Japan}, editor = {Tateyama, Kazuyoshi and Ishii, Kazuo and Inoue, Fumihiro}, publisher = {The International Association for Automation and Robotics in Construction (I.A.A.R.C.)}, isbn = {978-952-94-3634-7}, doi = {10.22260/ISARC2020/0102}, pages = {735 -- 742}, abstract = {Aging society is not only a crisis in the developed world but also a severe challenge in some emerging economies. However, the awareness of population aging and gerontechnology is far from sufficiently addressed in the architectural design education in universities. Therefore, an interdisciplinary approach in design education is urgently needed to raise the awareness of the aging crisis among the future architects, interior designers, and beyond. This article introduces a novel model of a design seminar offered by a German University, addressing population aging issues in the architecture department. The syllabus, formality, and the expected results of the seminar are revealed in detail. The participants are encouraged to apply interdisciplinary knowledge such as barrier-free architecture, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, robotics, medicine, psychology, and business to achieve the goals of the seminar. Based on the originality and degree of completion, several students' works are selected and reported, targeting a variety of diseases or syndromes related to aging, such as dementia, immobility, and tremors. Overall, participants of this seminar are motivated and have positive feedback on this seminar, oftentimes claiming that they have seldom studied similar topics in previous architecture education. This enables students from architecture as well as other fields to be better prepared to tackle the upcoming challenges such as labor shortages and infectious diseases in a rapidly aging world. Furthermore, the seminar creates novel concepts that serve as a win-win "honeypot" for both students and their instructors, potentially sparking research topics and start-ups with concepts fostered in this seminar.}, language = {en} } @article{CheahBockCaoetal., author = {Cheah, Chien Chern and Bock, Thomas and Cao, Jianfu and Linner, Thomas and Liu, Yun-Hui and Yamashita, Atsushi and Yang, Liman}, title = {Guest Editorial Introduction to the Focused Section on Mechatronics and Automation for Constructions}, series = {IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics}, volume = {26}, journal = {IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics}, number = {6}, publisher = {IEEE}, doi = {10.1109/TMECH.2021.3127237}, pages = {2819 -- 2825}, abstract = {Rapid advances in modern technologies have completely revolutionized many industries in recent years. It is anticipated that mechatronic and automation technologies would play an important role in transforming the construction industry to embrace for the fourth industrial revolution. However, construction automation problems bring up new research challenges that diverge from traditional methods. Unlike the factory environment, which is typically structured and predictable, construction sites are dynamic places where the working environment is unstructured and always changing. Due to lack of skilled labor, time and cost overruns, quality deficiencies, and the recent pandemics, mechatronic and automation technologies offer solutions for future safe, rapid, performative, prize worthy, and digitally protocolled construction projects. The coexistence of human workers, heavy vehicles, varying environmental conditions, and automated mechatronic systems also make safe human-machine interaction an important issue. Beyond expertise in a specific discipline, construction automation also requires multidisciplinary expertise to integrate with various fields, such as Internet of Things (IOT), robotics and its construction oriented subsystems, adaptive/robust control, machine vision, sensing technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), and building/construction/process information modeling (BIM/CIM/PIM) for automated construction process management and design. The main aims of this focused section in the IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics (TMECH) are to document the current state of the art in mechatronics and automation for constructions, and to present new results in several emerging research areas.}, language = {en} }