Robotics and Additive Manufacturing in the Construction Industry

Abstract

Robot-assisted construction brings several advantages to the construction process—increased quality, reduced risk, faster work cycle. There are numerous automation developments aiming for incorporation in the construction. Nowadays, additive manufacturing rapidly becomes the desired process in many manufacturing areas, mainly due to its advantages in free form automatic execution of parts or structures. Recent studies show that the robotic technology can help improving the additive manufacturing process. This can be achieved by optimised deposition process, inclusion of temporary supports and/or post-treatment. Existing software products allow for the simulation of the production process as well as the prediction of the material properties, whereas advanced measurement systems permit precise measurement of the as-built geometry. This paper summarises recent development in robotics and additive manufacturing for construction industry.