Fig. 2. Hadrian X wall construction robot
Fastbrick Robotics in Australia is a company specializing in the
research and development of large-scale wall construction robots. This
company has developed several large-scale robots for wall construction,
among which Hadrian X wall construction robot is its latest model, as
shown in Figure 2. The robot is composed of three parts: a carrier
device, a 6-axis industrial robot arm and a manipulator. It uses 3D
computer-aided design software to draw a residential model,
automatically judge the position of bricks, and grabs bricks with
suction cups. The robot arm with six degrees of freedom can realize the
installation of bricks in all directions.
By comparing the mechanical structure and control system of the above
two typical construction robots, it can be seen that the wall
construction robot developed by Essen University in Duisburg, Germany is
small in size and light in weight. In operation, manual cooperation is
required, which can save about 6.5% cost compared with traditional
robot operation. The Had-rian X wall construction robot, which is
transported by giant trucks, is bulky and heavy. After a series of
tests, the robot can finish laying 1,000 bricks in one hour.