Could collaborative robots (co-bots) be used in building projects?

Could collaborative robots (co-bots) be used in building projects?

This was one of the questions addressed to the FMB and other construction industry delegates at a workshop hosted by the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre on 7 March 2022. 

Now this isn’t about the future; co-bots are amongst the here and now in construction today. A brick-laying robot secured NHBC Accepts Accreditation in January. NHBC Accepts Accreditation means that the leading warrant provider for new build housing accepts that the robot delivers work to the same standard that it expects from skilled human bricklayers. The Automatic Brick Laying Robot (ABLR) builds external walls, laying bricks, blocks, and mortar, while running on a track around the foundations of the building.

Could Master Builders benefit from bots?

Now this might be fine for volume housebuilding, but most FMB members deliver repair, maintenance and improvement works to residential properties. Could members see productivity gains through using co-bots in the future? Working alongside skilled craft operatives, will we see co-bots help to measure, cut, lift, and join during small building projects? Every project is different and leaving costs aside, would Master Builders in the future trust a co-bot? Could co-bots help with automated reporting and in reducing defects?

Many other questions were raised by delegates on the day, but there was a common view that there could be improved safety and a reduction in injuries during building projects if co-bots could be used.

Meet Martin, the spot bot

Now Martin may be best suited for larger building or civil engineering projects but regardless of the size of a building project, working at height is an area where co-bot technology could have positive impacts. Moving down to the ground and indeed under floor levels, co-bots capable of spraying foam insulation under floors are being trialled across selected homes in Orkney this month.

Are you working with co-bots on your construction sites?

With all that being said, I don’t think we will be seeing a mass production of different types of co-bots for use within construction projects soon. However, we at the FMB are taking a look into the future and how appropriate technology could help members build smarter, safer, and more profitably.

I would be interested to know if any members are using any co-bot technology on your projects. Equally if you just wanted to find out more, please get in touch.

Authors

Gordon Nelson

FMB Scotland Hub Director, Federation of Master Builders

Director, Federation of Master Builders Scotland

Gordon has nearly twenty years’ experience of working in membership organisations in Scotland and joined the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in 2014. Prior to this, he worked at the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) and for Unilever in business development, membership management and business-to-business marketing roles. Amongst his responsibilities in his role as the Director for FMB Scotland are public affairs, media relations, governance and representing member’s interests to Scottish policy makers and stakeholders within the Scottish construction industry. Gordon is the Secretary of the Cross-Party Group on Construction in the Scottish Parliament, and he is a member of the Scottish Building Standards Futures Board. Gordon represents the FMB on Scotland’s Construction Industry Collective Voice: which is comprised of the leading construction trade and professional bodies. In spring 2023 Gordon was appointed as an industry co-chair of the Construction Leaderships Forum’s (CLF) Transformation Board.

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