The introduction article for assignment 1 discusses the current, and various uses of robotics and their applicability to a wide range of work environments. As the article states, there are many different types of robots, including "robotic manipulators, robotic hands, mobile robots, walking robots, aids for disabled persons, telerobots, and microelectromechanical systems."
The uses of robotics is astounding, and has played an integral part in manufacturing goods, providing services and improving life on this planet. For example, robotic machines took the place of a large portion of human labor in the automobile manufacturing sector. This allows mass-production of a product that would otherwise take much longer to produce if only done by humans.
Additionally, I think its important to note that robots don't have to produce complex products like computer motherboards, or cars. They are also designed to accomplish simple tasks that are, in general, time-consuming for human endeavour. Consider the steel industry. It is very common to find robotic arm welding mechanisms that cut, shape and weld steel plates, beams and other steel products, with both precise and accurate results.
The two articles I have examined, specifically related to robotics used in construction, are:
1. "A NEW WAVE OF CONSTRUCTION AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS IN JAPAN"
2. "Construction Robotics"
The first article I researched discusses the growing involvement of robotics in Japan's construction industry. Currently, 10% of Japan's working population, or 6 million people, are involved in the construction industry. Japan has replaced labor force with robots for certain construction activities. For example, specially designed soils robots were used in cases of remote, unmanned earthwork removal throughout Japan, as well as automated tunneling systems. The article contributed the following developments to the growing rate of robotics in construction: 1) Advanced measuring & positioning 2) CAD 3) Computer simulation for method planning 4) Automation & robotics advancements 5) Computer aided construction management.
The second article examined, "Construction Robotics," briefly discusses the history and development of humanoid-like robots used in the construction practice, and makes a conclusion that "In the future service robots will be a big market in the built environment." Much like the automobile and steel industry, this article focused on robots used in the manufacturing process of construction materials. Robotic precast concrete panels serve as a great example. Its interesting to note that the robotic automated system is capable of interpreting input in the form of CAD data, and producing a product that was designed in CAD. This is an extremely efficient system, since design can be take right from the engineer to the manufacturing plant instantaneously.
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