System boundaries of implementing construction robots for buildings

Abstract

Robotics has been raised for years as radical innovation to reform and renovate the building and construction industry, yet the uptake has been low. A key reason is that the dynamic, unique, human interacted site environment presents grave challenges for robot manipulation for construction works. To underpin the development of construction robots as complicated systems, it is essential to clearly efine their system boundaries and explicitly examine their interdependency. This knowledge however is missing in previous literature. This paper develops a new theoretical model of system boundaries to examine the implementation of construction robots for buildings in a systematic manner. The system boundaries are identified in three dimensions (human, building, societal) including the autonomic, technical, building lifecycle, task, environment, stakeholder, and institutional boundaries. These boundaries define the contexts in which construction robots are developed and implemented, laying the analytical lens for understanding the technology complexity and variability, and providing pathways for technology transfer from other sectors. The developed model is then elucidated using four case studies. The results reveal the complexity of and interaction between the boundaries that restrict or facilitate the implementation of construction robots. The paper offers a ground-breaking new direction for research into construction robots for buildings.