Tokyu Construction Co., Ltd. and THK Co., Ltd. announced that they are jointly developing a robot that automates the transportation of materials and equipment at construction sites, and are currently conducting demonstration experiments.
The robot under development used in the demonstration experiment is a transfer robot equipped with the autonomous movement control system “SIGNAS” originally developed by THK Co., Ltd. to automate the transfer work in a semi-outdoor environment such as a construction site.
Autonomous movement control system “SIGNAS” The
stereo camera mounted on the robot measures the distance and direction of the signpost installed around the route, and it is possible to move while correcting the trajectory so as to travel on the target route. It can be set.
Tokyu Construction Co., Ltd. and THK Co., Ltd. intend to improve the transfer robots for construction sites and contribute to improving the productivity of construction sites.
Below is a quote from the press release
-Joint development of a transfer robot that can travel on steps and complicated routes-
Tokyu Construction Co., Ltd. (President: Mitsuhiro Terada, hereafter Tokyu Construction) and THK Co., Ltd. (President: Akihiro Teramachi, hereafter THK) are jointly developing a robot that automates the transportation of materials and equipment at construction sites. Yes, we are currently conducting a demonstration experiment.
We will continue to develop it with the aim of commercialization in the spring of 2020.
● Issues facing the construction industry
In recent years, the labor shortage has become more serious in the construction industry due to the decrease in the number of employees. In addition, it is difficult to standardize work in the construction industry, which is based on local production, and improving productivity has become a major issue.
At construction sites, not only does the work environment change daily as the construction progresses, but the environment such as narrow and tight passages and steps is a factor that hinders the productivity of transporting materials and equipment.
● Purpose of joint development
Tokyu Construction and THK are for construction sites where the route can be changed immediately according to the daily changing work environment, and materials and equipment can be transported to a fixed position even in a construction environment with narrow and tight passages and steps. We are proceeding with joint development of a transfer robot.
By introducing this transfer robot for construction sites, we aim to improve work efficiency by about 30% (*).
- With the introduction of the transfer robot for construction sites, it is possible for 5 people to carry out the material and equipment transfer work that is currently being performed by 7 people, and the calculation is based on the condition that the reduced number of personnel will be assigned to other work.
● “Construction site transfer robot” that improves productivity
The construction site transfer robot under development is a transfer robot for automating the transfer work of materials and equipment performed in an environment with steps and dust.
In order to respond to the ever-changing construction site, THK’s original autonomous movement control system “SIGNAS” is installed so that even field workers who do not have programming knowledge can quickly and easily set the transportation route.
● Contents of the demonstration experiment
At a large-scale condominium construction site in Tokyo, a transport robot for the construction site pulls 1 ton of materials and equipment mounted on a trolley, overcomes steps on the iron plate, and can run stably even if the surrounding environment such as the arrangement of objects changes We conducted an experiment to confirm what we could do.
In the future, Tokyu Construction and THK will continue to improve the transfer robots for construction sites and contribute to improving the productivity of construction sites.
Original press release: https://www.tokyu-cnst.co.jp/index/download/3355/inline/20190604newsletter.pdf