Rapid Construction–30 Story Hotel in 15 Days

I’m not sure exactly how this building relates to “Intelligence”, although I suspect there may have been some robotics in the factory.  Nonetheless its indicative of some of the changes and possibilities that are coming – and it’s amazing.

Contemporary Manufacturing

 

Most of the components in a building are manufactured in an off-site plant.  The impact of the information technology that makes possible the Intelligent Building concept is probably felt in those plants first. This post provides some illustrations of contemporary techniques, some of which may well extend to the on-site construction of a building or into  its later operation, particularly as BIM model use extends to manufacturing and assembly.

There is clearly a considerable overlap between what we see here and the topics of robotics and Artificial Intelligence.

Numerically Controlled Machines

These machines are not generally adaptive and require extensive planning to make the parts, but they are nonetheless important.

• Making a V8 Engine Block – 10:58 min 2007 – What’s important here is that it’s working with steel.  Some of the newer techniques below don’t (yet) have that ability.
• Step-NC Machining – 8:38min 2008 – While this is aimed at the automotive industry, it’s plausible to extrapolate that a similar approach can be used within the construction industry, either for parts or for on-site construction.

3D Printing – The Hot Topic

• The 3D Printing Revolution – 2012 - 6:11min – An overview looking towards the future of personal printing.  It’s somewhat simplistic, but nonetheless gives a good overview of that level.
• The Future of 3D Printing – 2012 CES – 17:43min – This shows two CEO’s from companies making 3D printers for the consumer market, talking about and displaying their products,
• Cubex 3D Printer – 2013 CES – 1:14min – Shows what has developed in a year for the desktop printer market.
• EOS 3D Printer 2012 – 2:08 min - The two prior videos use only plastics.  This machine uses sintered metal to produce its parts.
• Discovery Channel Covers DShape 3D Printing – 6m x 6m – 6:03 concrete printer – it solidifies sand to make a special form of concrete.
• Printing Titanium bicycle parts – 2012 – 4:07 – Highly complex shape in titanium.  There’s actually a totally (almost) 3d-Fabricated bike (2011)

Robotics–Preparation for Class Discussion–videos & Articles

We’re going to consider Robotics as a technology will affect our discussion of Intelligent Buildings.  Currently there are few (though some) direct applications of robots in buildings.  I would argue that there will be increasing use in the future.

Below are some videos (indicated by timing) and articles that should provide a background.

Academic Approach

• The article in AccessScience is a good overview of the field of robotics, though the articles used as sources are mostly from the 1990’s. I’d welcome a more current
• Wkipedia has a good overview as well that is much more current and has images.
• They both agree that the elements one must address in robotics are:
  • Components
    • Power source
    • Sensing
    • Manipulation
    • Locomotion
    • Environmental Interaction and navigation
    • Human-robot interaction
    • Control

Examples

Motion

• Google Autonomous car – Blind person using it - 3min
  • 2005 – Darpa Challenge – Shows has fast we’ve advanced – 11min
• LS3 Marine Corps Pack robot – Will carry 400 lb payload – 4:04 min
• Wave-Powered boat – 4:59min
• Autonomous Indoor Plane -  In a parking garage – 2:48
• Hobbyist Quadrocopter as video platform – from CES 2013

Industrial

• Six-Axis Robot – 2.25min
• Kia Sportage Factory Production Line – 1.75min
• Baxter – 2012 –Rethink Robotics – Safer industrial robot 4:15

Education

• Robots in Korean Elementary School Classroom – 51sec – 2009

Construction

• Precision Layout Robot – Only a design, but… – 1:05m
• Robotic Steel Beam Assembly – In factory, not on site, but…. – 9:40
• Concrete Floor Finishing – prototype in 2009 – 1:39

Analysis

• Better Than Human: Why Robots Will — And Must — Take Our Jobs – Very positive article about the effects of robots – Kevin Kelly
• Review of: Robot Ethics: The Ethical and Social Implications of Robotics – Gives a sense of the issues.