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Deliverable D28: Formalized results of final testing and optimization activities: Summarization of testing and evaluation of final testing of continuously improved system in the form of prototypes in real world environments and presentation of optimization measures (associated with tasks T6.5, T6.6, T6.7, T6.8). D28 is an update on D27. Additional associated deliverables are D12, D13, D23, D31, and D44. Abstract: In order to provide a comprehensive summary of all testing activities, the medical core group (DTU, HUG, SK, TUM) created a mini protocol template (which requested the outline of some methodological aspects of each study such as study designs, the recruitment phase, population under investigation, etc.), and ensured that data were submitted and provided by the trial manager to the core group. In this deliverable we present, structure, and interpret the formalized results of the final testing and optimization activities of all testing activities in REACH. The deliverable includes the summarization of testing and evaluation of final testing of a continuously improved system in the form of prototypes in real world environments and the presentation of optimization measures. The deliverable is an update on deliverable D27 and associated with tasks T6.5, T6.6, T6.7, T6.8. In reaction to the reviewers' comments we initiated additional trials focusing on practice cases. Those trials are specifically ladled and included in the updated overview. A review on factors, i.e., falling, frailty, cognitive decline , sarcopenia, social isolation, and malnutrician, was performed to show the most important cofactors. Addressed in this deliverable is also the role of privacy and the hierarchy of needs which are essential components of the acceptance and use of technology .
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.
A cable-driven parallel robot (CDPR) was developed for the installation of curtain wall modules (CWM). The research addressed the question of whether the CDPR was capable installing CWMs with sufficient accuracy while being competitive compared to conventional manual methods. In order to develop and test such a system, a conceptual framework that consisted of three sub-systems was defined. The tests, carried out in two close-to-real demonstration buildings, revealed an absolute accuracy of the CWM installation of 4 to 23 mm. The working time for installing a CWM was reduced to 0.51 h. The results also show that the system is competitive for a workspace greater than 96 m2 compared to conventional manual methods. However, improvements such as reducing the hours for setting up the CDPR on the one hand and achieving a faster and more robust MEE on the other hand will be still necessary in the future.
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 façade 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.
The world’s population is aging at an unprecedented pace. Aging society is not only a severe crisis in the developed world such as Germany and Japan, but also a rigorous challenge in emerging economies such as China. 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. The research project REACH (funded by European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program under grant agreement No. 690425) 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 activities (e.g., physical, cognitive, socializing, personalized food, etc.). As a core research partner, the Chair of Building Realization and Robotics at Technical University of Munich developed a series of Personalized Intelligent Interior Units (PI²Us), which are a special type of smart furniture, that materialize the REACH concepts and functionality seamlessly into the different REACH use case settings. Specifically, the design and functions of the PI²Us, which consist of the PI²U-SilverArc, PI²U-MiniArc, PI²U-Bed, and PI²U-iStander, will be described in detail. In addition, a modular apartment integrating all PI²Us and key technologies in REACH is designed and simulated to create a total interior living and care environment for elderly users. Due to its modularity, parts of the apartment can be easily adapted and rapidly deployed in different REACH use case settings in four European countries, which will then help the REACH consortium execute a series of testing activities. In conclusion, this research project provides a systematic and innovative example for the world to mitigate the impact of aging society.
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.
Developing a roadmap for implementing on-site construction automation and robotics in Hong Kong
(2019)
For a long time, the conventional construction sector in Hong Kong has been perceived as old-fashioned and lagging behind compared to many other industrial sectors. Numerous challenges are facing the construction industry, such as diminishing productivity, unstable quality, increasing demand, as well as population aging and shortage in the local labor market. One possible solution is to identify and deploy the state-of-the-art technologies that could potentially be implemented in the Hong Kong construction industry. Many studies have been documented about the design and development of a specific construction robotic system. However, there is limited literature on how to investigate the implementation and integration of a range of proposed systems in a specific, local context, and to evaluate the process and impact from short-term, mid-term, and long-term perspectives. Based on the ongoing consultancy project commissioned by the Construction Industry Council (CIC) in Hong Kong, this paper demonstrates the method adopted in proposing a systematic approach as well as the development of a comprehensive roadmap for implementing on-site construction automation and robotic technologies in the context of Hong Kong. In general, the proposed roadmap, which is structured based on the reviews of the current situation in Hong Kong's construction industry, will evaluate short-term and mid-term practical strategies and action plans. Furthermore, it will forecast a long-term perspective, aspirations, and potential business strategy. The activity of road-mapping is extended with the objective to mitigate existing risks and barriers, and to plan ahead. Eventually, it will serve as a guideline for the construction industry in Hong Kong and beyond to execute similar types of projects in the future.
Delivering energy-efficient buildings or settlements has become a popular topic amongst architects, engineers, and building engineering physicists. There are many methods for improving building energy performances, both for new build projects and for retrofitting existing buildings. However, the construction industry faces some profound challenges to satisfy the increasing demand for energy-efficient buildings or other solutions and to be able to offer them at an affordable cost. A holistic approach has been adopted to validate whether automation robotics and off-site manufacturing technologies can yield positive changes in the delivery of energy-efficient buildings. This paper emphasizes the potential transformations and possible impacts on the design, construction, and installation process of an energy-efficient building once the advanced technologies are implemented. This paper also highlights case studies in multiple ongoing or past European Union (EU) Horizon 2020 research projects as well as private projects to demonstrate the applicability and technical feasibility of the proposed solution. The scenario proposed was used to demonstrate how to apply the proposal in a large-scale residential building project. In addition, the findings from this study will serve as proof of the concept of a larger research project, or as an inspiration for the construction industry to execute energy-efficient building projects in the future.
This chapter presents additional research and development on offsite modular manufacturing of interior subsystems – to transform real estate stock to future demands triggered by demographic challenges, thereby allowing instant deployment. It explores the use of innovative systems for prefabrication. Regarding offsite production and manufacturing, the transformation of parts and low-level components into higher-level components by highly mechanised, automated or robot-supported industrial settings therefore needs to take place. Construction automation for offsite manufacturing, requires the integration of products, organisation, informational aspects, and machine technology in order to maximise efficiency and deliver product quality. A construction-kit cell can confine the production-unit elements in a specific area of the building, yet contain a greater capacity than an upgraded existing environment. A fully robotic construction industry will require significant research and development – of each product, process, and participant of the building production process.
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 .
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).
Single-task construction robots (STCRs) have become a popular research topic for decades. However, there is still a gap in the ubiquitous application of STCRs for onsite construction due to various reasons, such as cost concerns. Therefore, cost–benefit analysis (CBA) can be used to measure the net economic benefit of the STCRs, compared to traditional construction methods, in order to boost the implementation of STCRs. This paper presents a simple and practical framework for the economic evaluation of STCRs and conducts a case study of a cable-driven facade installation robot to verify the method. The results show that the cable-driven robot for facade installation is worth investing in in the UK, as well as in the majority of G20 countries. Furthermore, other socioenvironmental implications of STCRs and the limitations of the study are also discussed. In conclusion, the proposed method is highly adaptable and reproducible. Therefore, researchers, engineers, investors, and policy makers can easily follow and customize this method to assess the economic advantages of any STCR systems, compared to traditional construction technologies.
The construction industry, supported by the materials industry, is a major user of natural resources. Automation and robotics have the potential to play a key role in the development of circular construction by increasing productivity, reducing waste, increasing safety, and mitigating labor shortages. Starting with a brief synopsis of the history of construction robotics and the concept of robot-oriented design, this article presents exemplary case studies of research projects and entrepreneurial activities in which the authors have participated that have contributed to the advancement of concrete construction. The activities of the authors have systematically led to spin-offs and start-ups, especially in recent years (e.g., CREDO Robotics GmbH, ARE23 GmbH, KEWAZO GmbH, ExlenTec Robotics GmbH, etc.), which shows that the use of construction robots is becoming an important part of the construction industry. With the use of automation and robotics in the built environment especially for concrete construction, current challenges such as the housing shortage can be addressed using the leading machinery and robot technology in Germany and other parts of the world. The knowledge and know-hows gained in these endeavors will lay the groundwork for the next frontier of construction robotics beyond the construction sites.
Bauautomatisierung und Robotik im Betonbau: Fallstudien zu Forschung, Entwicklung und Innovation
(2023)
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.
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.
Standardization activities
(2020)
REACH has the ambition to influence and gain from standardization on national, European, and international level. We aim to create synergies between parallel work on these levels that will finally make a beneficial impact. Systematic parallel and synergeti cwork on these levels allow REACH to create a maximized impact for all involved stakeholders, and in particular, create better health and health care “ecosystems” for potential REACH end users.
This deliverable report examines the outcome of the construction of functional or partly functional prototypes or mock-ups of Personalized Interior Intelligent Environment Units (PI²Us) for demonstration and testing purposes, associated with Task T5.4. The first part of this document will give an overview of the relation of this task to other tasks of WP5, other work packages, and the larger framework of the REACH project. The second part sets out the details of the progressive development from early concepts to the current prototyping stage. Moreover, the subsequent lab-based testing is described in the third part of the report. This includes both already carried out and planned testing activities for either early stage validation or final demonstration in a naturalistic test environment. Finally, part four summarizes the results and puts the different prototypes in perspective to the respective touchpoints and the overall REACH engine functionality. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 690425.