Refine
Document Type
- Article (2)
- Part of a Book (1)
Language
- English (3)
Has Fulltext
- no (3) (remove)
Is part of the Bibliography
- no (3)
Keywords
- Systems engineering (3) (remove)
Institute
Begutachtungsstatus
- peer-reviewed (2)
Structuring the context for construction robot development through integrated scenario approach
(2020)
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.
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).
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.