Hyundai Engineering & Construction's HMG Construction Technology Research Institute Focuses on Developing Customized Material Transport Robots for Construction Sites

To solve the problems of an aging construction industry and a shortage of skilled workers, the development of robot technology specialized for construction sites is accelerating. To overcome the limitations where existing commercial robots find it difficult to reflect the specificities of construction sites, movements are emerging to directly design and develop robots.

"Finding a needle in a desert"... Why customized robot development is necessary

According to a video released on the HYUNDAI YouTube channel, the robotics research team at the HMG Construction Technology Research Institute is performing tasks such as exploring and demonstrating automation technologies to increase safety, quality, and productivity at construction sites. The researcher appearing in the video compared the situation where commercial robots suitable for construction sites are rare to "finding a needle in a desert" and explained the necessity of developing robots directly if needed.

One of the tasks the research team is currently focusing on is the development of material transport robots. These robots support the work flow by transporting necessary materials to the site in a timely manner, thereby playing a role in increasing the automation rate of construction sites. Regarding the direction of robotics technology, the researcher emphasized, "It should not be about completely replacing people, but about helping people." The plan is to ensure site safety and quality consistency by assisting low-skilled workers so they can work stably, or by having robots perform dangerous tasks instead.

Prioritizing the introduction of monitoring robots such as drones and AMR... "Expansion of application scope expected within 5 years"

The robot technology currently being most actively utilized at construction sites is in the monitoring area, which inspects the quality and safety of the site. Representative methods include combining drones, Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR), and quadruped robots (such as Spot) with various sensors to automatically inspect the site. A characteristic is that the barrier to entry is low, as robots can travel through wide areas or dangerous zones that are difficult for humans to access directly to collect data.

To perform construction robot duties, the core competencies are problem analysis and planning skills, which involve accurately analyzing the 'Pain Points' of the site and designing robots based on them. The researcher explained that at the organizational level, they receive the transfer of knowledge from seniors with abundant site experience and are provided with opportunities to demonstrate technology at actual sites.

Regarding future changes in the construction robotics field, the researcher predicted, "While it may not be a dramatic change where the entire site is automated within 5 years, the direction is clear." In particular, if 'interface standardization' and 'improvement of AI perception performance' that facilitate robot introduction are supported, they foresee that many more robots will be developed and applied to actual construction sites than currently.