Construction Robots

This book presents Japan"s achievements in the development and application of over 100 construction robots and five automated systems. The Japanese have progressed far beyond the U.S. in these new technologies, which are already having a revolutionary impact on Japanese architecture. The impact of robotics has already begun to show measured improvements in quality, productivity, and safety in construction.

Combining architectural theory with the latest trends in manufacturing technology, this volume shows how Single-Task Construction Robots (STCRs) can improve productivity in the construction industry. It presents two hundred types of STCRs and includes numerous real-world case studies, making it an excellent resource for professional engineers and researchers.

This book will help researchers and engineers in the design of ethical systems for robots, addressing the philosophical questions that arise and exploring modern applications such as assistive robots and self-driving cars. The contributing authors are among the leading academic and industrial researchers on this topic and the book will be of value to researchers, graduate students and practitioners engaged with robot design, artificial intelligence and ethics.

After two decades, data processing has finally, and probably forever, found its niche among civil engineering and construction (CEC) professionnals, through word processors, digitizing tables, management software, and increasingly via drawing software and computer-aided design (CAD), recently, robots have even started invading work sites. What are the main trends of CAD and robotics in the field of architecture and civil enginee ring? What type of R&D effort do university and industrial laboratories undertake to devise the professional software that will be on the market in the next three to five years? These are the issues which will be addressed during this symposium. To this effect, we have planned concurrently an equipment and software show, as well as a twofold conference. Robotic is just starting in the field of civil engineering and construction. A pioneer, the Civil Engineering Departement of Carnegie-Mellon University, in the United States, organized the first two international symposia, in 1984 and 1985 in Pittsburgh. This is the third meeting on the subject (this year, however, we have also included CAD). It constitutes the first large international symposium where CAD experts, specialists in architecture and CEC robotics will meet. From this standpoint, it should be an ideal forum for exchanging views and expe riences on a wide range of topics, and we hope it will give rise to novel applications and new syntheses. This symposium is intented for scientists, teachers, students and also for manufacturers and all CEC professionals.

Autonomous robots are robots which can perform desired tasks in unstructured environments without continuous human guidance. Many kinds of robots have some degree of autonomy. Different robots can be autonomous in different ways. A high degree of autonomy is particularly desirable in fields such as space exploration, where communication delays and interruptions are unavoidable. Some modern factory robots are "autonomous" within the strict confines of their direct environment. The exact orientation and position of the next object of work and (in the more advanced factories) even the type of object and the required task must be determined. This can vary unpredictably (at least from the robot's point of view). One important area of robotics research is to enable the robot to cope with its environment whether this be on land, underwater, in the air, underground, or in space. This book presents the latest research from around the globe.

Sourced from international experts, this book presents papers dealing with a wide range of soft and hard research issues at various stages of development in the field. Some cover entirely new ground, whilst others reflect progress on the sometimes frustrating path to truly robust technology. Of particular interest are contributions discussing issues of exploitation and commercialisation, the integration of end products within the design and construction processes incorporating information technology (IT) and the impact of the emerging technology on the culture and organisation of the construction industry. A mark of growing maturity is apparent in the coverage of health and safety and related social issues. This is complemented by a clear commitment to the consideration of human factors and the environment. It is hoped that by promoting a wider debate on the matters of future technology and its horizons, on the identification of what industry needs from the research and development community and on building effective partnerships between academia, industry and government, the publication not only addresses the practical commercial obligation to seek robust solutions for today's problems, but will stimulate research for the years to come.

With the science of robotics undergoing a major transformation just now, Springer’s new, authoritative handbook on the subject couldn’t have come at a better time. Having broken free from its origins in industry, robotics has been rapidly expanding into the challenging terrain of unstructured environments. Unlike other handbooks that focus on industrial applications, the Springer Handbook of Robotics incorporates these new developments. Just like all Springer Handbooks, it is utterly comprehensive, edited by internationally renowned experts, and replete with contributions from leading researchers from around the world. The handbook is an ideal resource for robotics experts but also for people new to this expanding field.

All of us are dependent on a built environment constructed and maintained by civil and hydraulic engineers, and for those working in these fields, keeping up to date with the latest technological developments is vital for the safe and efficient design and operation of this infrastructure. This book presents the proceedings of HCET 2023, the 8th International Technical Conference on Frontiers of Hydraulic and Civil Engineering Technology, held from 25-27 September 2023 in Wuhan, China. HCET is an international conference which aims to enhance the development of hydraulic and civil engineering in China, with a focus on high-end, intelligent and green technologies. It seeks to do this by consolidating global wisdom and achievements and providing scientific support. HCET also offers an excellent opportunity for scientists, researchers and engineers from around the world to exchange their findings and discuss developments, establishing a basis for national and international collaboration. A total of 316 contributions were received for the 2023 edition, of which 187 were ultimately accepted after a rigorous review process and checks for quality and plagiarism. Topics covered include the research and development of concrete structure design and analysis; structural mechanics and structural engineering; building and future materials; hydraulic engineering; geological exploration and earthquake engineering; building technology; urban planning; road, bridge and traffic engineering; energy infrastructure; environmental engineering and advanced engineering technologies, and interdisciplinary sciences and applications. Covering a wide range of subjects related to hydraulic engineering and civil engineering technology and associated transdisciplinary sciences, the book will be of interest to all those working in the field.