What are the opportunities and challenges in deploying off-road automation in construction?

Background

The grow and level up the economy strategic priority is at the heart of the government’s agenda to spread opportunity across the UK. Transport has a crucial role to play, whether it be through improving connectivity across the United Kingdom and growing the economy by enhancing the transport network, on time and on budget. DfT has a number of specific interests in this space, notably our infrastructure projects, Places for Growth and our apprenticeships and skills work.

Next steps

Get in touch with bridgetoresearch@dft.gov.uk

Source

This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:

DFT-Areas of research interest 2023 GOV UK

Related UKRI funded projects

  • Intelligent Autonomous Digital Construction Machines

    The purpose of this collaborative project between JCB, MIRA and Leica Geosystems is to research future construction techniques involving a combination of automation, information technology and machine guidance. With expe...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: HORIBA MIRA LIMITED

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project partially answers the question by researching future construction techniques involving automation and machine guidance, but does not specifically address the opportunities and challenges in deploying off-road automation in construction.

  • COSCR-MULE

    Traditional construction is a low-tech but flexible manufacturing process. It is carried out 'on-site' using pre-manufactured components (windows, doors, bricks, blocks etc) and the manufacture of basic elements such as ...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: INNVOTEK LTD

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project fully answers the question by developing cost-effective, reconfigurable robots for the factory-based manufacture and assembly of component parts in construction, addressing the challenges and potential benefits of off-road automation in construction.

  • AI-driven and real-time command and control centre for site equipment in infrastructure projects

    Site plant and equipment (P&E), particularly heavy earthmoving equipment such as excavators, bulldozers and trucks represent a major cost element in construction projects ranging from 10% in a commercial project up t...

    Funded by: ISCF

    Lead research organisation: BIM ACADEMY (ENTERPRISES) LIMITED

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project partially answers the question by developing an AI-driven and real-time command and control centre for site equipment in infrastructure projects, but does not specifically address the opportunities and challenges in deploying off-road automation in construction.

  • Automated Construction

    "We will be researching, developing and prototyping a new construction system to aid in the development of automated and continuous construction. We work closely with our pool of UK based manufacturers to help strea...

    Funded by: ISCF

    Lead research organisation: EASI-SPACE LTD

  • COSCR: Collaborative, On-Site Construction Robot

    "Traditional construction is a low-tech but flexible manufacturing process. It is carried out 'on-site' using pre-manufactured components (windows, doors, bricks, blocks etc) and the manufacture of basic elements su...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: HAL ROBOTICS LTD

  • DMOC: Distributed Manufacturing for Off-site Construction

    Distributed Manufacturing for Off-site Construction (DMOC) proposes a system to extract manufacturing information from an enhanced Building Information Model (BIM) and automatically dispatch production tasks to multiple ...

    Funded by: ISCF

    Lead research organisation: ALL DESIGN LONDON LIMITED

  • The application of robotics for the automated installation of tunnel mechanical, electrical and communication systems.

    **Project Background** It is recognised in the industry that large transportation infrastructure tunnels are usually constructed using Tunnel Boring Machine's (TBM's) which are highly automated for cutting through the g...

    Funded by: ISCF

    Lead research organisation: TUNNEL ENGINEERING SERVICES (U.K.) LTD.

  • Applied Off-site and On-site Collective Multi-Robot Autonomous Building Manufacturing

    Construction is significantly behind other UK sectors in productivity, speed, human safety, environmental sustainability and quality. In addition to inadequate building supply and affordability in the UK, humanitarian de...

    Funded by: ISCF

    Lead research organisation: University College London

  • A-TRIS (Automated Tunnel Robotic Installation System)

    **Project Background** Infrastructure tunnels are usually constructed using Tunnel Boring Machine's (TBM's) which are highly automated, used for cutting through the ground, producing a tunnel lining behind the TBM. Howe...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: TUNNEL ENGINEERING SERVICES (U.K.) LTD.

  • CAMERA: Construction and Manufacturing Enabled by a mobile Robotic Arm

    Construction accounts for 9% of UK GDP, employing 3M people. Whilst the size of the construction industry suggests that there should be many opportunities for the use of robotics, uptake has been slow. Projects are often...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: HAL ROBOTICS LTD