Research Topic 6: Integrating Robot Assistants into Modern Construction Paradigms
Research Description
Robotics offers a potential solution to alleviate the physical demands on construction workers and mitigate productivity and labor shortage issues in the construction industry. Given the complex nature of construction, robots need to share the workplace and interact with construction workers on site. In this research, you will plunge into the transformative domain of human-robot interaction and explore how to employ robots as intelligent assistants to construction workers. You will be involved in the research activities of configuring and programming construction robots to assist workers with on-site data collection and construction tasks. You will also have the opportunity to establish seamless communication between robots and workers, ensuring robots can interpret worker intentions and devise appropriate assistance plans. This interdisciplinary research project envisions transiting the role of construction workers from physical task performers to robot supervisors.
REU Research Plan
During the summer months, REU students will work with the faculty advisor and graduate student mentors in creating a human-robot interaction system for robot assistants to move around on a construction site and perform tasks assigned by workers. Students will be engaged in the following activities:
• Create a realistic 3D virtual construction environment for the preliminary robot testing in simulation.
• Develop programs to generate robot motion plans and control robot movements.
• Establish effective communication protocols between robots and construction workers.
• Contribute to the writing of a conference/journal paper to disseminate the research outcome.
More Details
Keywords: construction robotics, human-robot interaction, machine learning, construction site modeling, worker assistance
Required skills: Python or C/C++ programming
Undergraduate Degrees: Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Civil Engineering, Construction
Potential Faculty Advisor: Dr. Xi Wang