A multifaceted examination of the future potentialities and innovation processes of construction robots

Abstract

Construction robots have emerging as cutting-edge solutions to address the multiple socio-technical challenges confronting the construction industry. Despite increasing technological research and development of construction robots, in practice the technology take-up is limited and the construction industry is inadequately prepared to embrace this innovation. A pressing need therefore exists to understand the complexities and dynamics pertinent to the future potentialities of construction robots and how they – as a radical innovation – could be leveraged to transform the construction industry. This thesis aims to provide a systematic, multifaceted examination of the future potentialities of construction robots with the focus on buildings in Hong Kong. The research was carried out through the combination of a comprehensive literature review, an exploratory industry survey, and a follow-up multifaceted examination from industry, organisation and technology-oriented perspectives. Through the literature review, technology potentials were demonstrated by identifying wide-ranging sustainable impacts of construction robots. The industry survey involved 166 questionnaires and 20 follow-up interviews with professionals from key stakeholder groups. The survey results indicate the limited industry experiences and knowledge but perceived high importance of future construction robots for buildings in Hong Kong. The multifaceted examination covered three key perspectives. From the industrial perspective, the plausible scenarios were scrutinised for the utilisation of construction robots for buildings in Hong Kong, with a horizon year of 2035. A scenario approach integrating a modified fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory method was proposed and applied using empirical data. Four scenarios were envisioned and elaborated, namely, “Bottleneck”, “Age of Iron Worker”, “Dynamic Co-evolution of Robotisation and Modularisation” and “Rise of the Robots.” Strategies were devised under each scenario narrative. From the organisational perspective, the determinants of adopting construction robots were examined for off-site and on-site works. The off-site investigation was undertaken as a qualitative multi-case study with two precast concrete manufacturers and two robotics suppliers. Nine key determinants were identified. Comparatively, the on-site investigation was conducted as a quantitative evaluation of determinants based on a sample of 94 building contractors in Hong Kong using structural equation modelling. Results confirmed five significant determinants and suggested top management support as the most significant driver. From the technological perspective, case studies were performed with cable robots and exoskeletons. A screening of appropriate application areas was presented for both robots, enabling the subsequent analysis of usage potentials and strategies for applications and future development. The results obtained from different perspectives were discussed in an integrated and triangulated manner, leading to the derivation of an innovation process model of construction robots for buildings. The model conceptualises the development and adoption of construction robots as a socio-technical, evolutionary and co-evolutionary, trade-off, and iterative and adaptive process. This research provides evidence-based, multifaceted examination and analyses of the future potentialities of construction robots with the focus on buildings in Hong Kong. The findings have made theoretical, methodological and practical contributions to the knowledge of construction robots and innovation, and shed light upon decision-making on the future development, deployment and management of construction robots for building.