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

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    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Why might this be relevant?

    Addresses opportunities and challenges in deploying off-road automation in construction with expertise in automation and construction techniques.

  • 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

    Why might this be relevant?

    Focuses on developing cost-effective, reconfigurable robots for construction supply chains and on-site construction challenges, addressing opportunities and challenges in deploying 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

    Why might this be relevant?

    While not directly addressing off-road automation, it focuses on AI-driven command and control center for site equipment in infrastructure projects, partially relevant to the question.

  • 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

  • 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

  • Offsite Manufacturing Building Blocks

    The need for Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) that will allow the digital transformation of the construction sector and help achieve zero carbon emissions, has been highlighted in UK government's Industrial Strategy ...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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