Well, not quite, but with advances in humanoid robotics and the rise of AI, it’s surely only a matter of time before droids find a place on the construction site. Tim Clark reports
On 19 April, robots raced humans during a marathon in Beijing. Utilising a mix of long legs, and an algorithm which imitated human movement, with a time of two hours and forty minutes, the winning robot Tiangong Ultra crossed the finish line as the first humanoid marathon competitor.
Although the human marathon runners managed to finish at twice the speed of their droid compatriots, the engineering feat can’t be understated.
Although used as a showcase for sport and technology, the Beijing marathon highlighted one thing: The race to replace humans is very much underway.
Build in Digital reported earlier this month that Lithuanian company Exergio was experimenting with humanoid robots to train them in helping to maintain a building’s energy efficiency.
Donatas Karčiauskas, chief executive of Exergio, said that the use of droids and AI will help robots be trained to conduct on-site equipment inspections, look for early signs of system failures, and respond to alerts faster than humans.
He said: “AI-powered humanoid robots can process vast amounts of sensor data, identify inefficiencies, and respond instantly to anomalies. For example, a robot can detect an overheating component before it fails or pinpoint false alarms that would otherwise waste time and resources.”
The Lithuanian firm’s grand humanoid plans give an idea of what may lie around the corner for the construction sector. But the news also begs the wider question of just where the world of droids is heading, and will they become ubiquitous in the construction sector in years to come?
Robots and droids also share a large crossover, with many human functions on sites still being taken by larger-scale robots rather than nimble droids that resemble a science fiction fantasy film. That reality is beginning to change.
Economic outlook
As previously reported by Build in Digital, the McKinsey Global Institute has measured productivity in the construction sector since the turn of the millennium and found the rate of progress remains flat.
Despite digital technology, thus far the productivity gains are to be realised. Droids represent the next step in the evolution of the digital construction site. The process has been evolving for the last decade at least.
In 2017 robots were employed on construction sites for the automated removal of asbestos. The Robots to Reconstruction (Bots2ReC) initiative aimed to introduce mobile robots on-site to help with automated removal of asbestos. The project included the development of a robotic carrier platform, a robotic arm for guiding tools such as a grinding wheel, and a radar sensor system
AI boost
Although the mechanics of a robot or a humanoid robot has arguably been available for over a decade, it is the recent innovation in Artificial Intelligence (AI) which has really spurred innovation.
Advancements in AI, particularly in machine learning and natural language processing, are equipping humanoid robots with the capabilities to navigate dynamic environments, understand human instructions, and interact seamlessly with people.
Speaking to Business Insider, Jensen Huang, CEO of chip manufacturer Nvidia, highlighted how the droid revolution is progressing: “The ChatGPT moment for general robotics is just around the corner,” he said, emphasizing the convergence of AI and robotics in creating versatile, general-purpose machines.
Companies like Agility Robotics, which is headquartered in Oregon, and Texas-based Apptronik are two firms that are developing humanoid robots such as Digit and Apollo, designed to operate in environments like warehouses and manufacturing facilities. These robots leverage AI to perform tasks ranging from material handling to complex assembly processes.
Exergio uses Nvidia’s GRooT system for its own applications. In March Nvidia revealed that the firm’s open-source pre-trained foundation model known as Isaac GRooT N1 is available to use. The model is purported to boost robot reasoning and skills, with minimal post-training data needed.
Huang added that the “age of generalist robotics is here”.
Moreover, the integration of AI in humanoid robots is not limited to industrial applications. Initiatives, like Hugging Face’s acquisition of Pollen Robotics, aim to democratise robotics by promoting open-source development, allowing for broader experimentation and innovation in the field.
In Europe, German firm Neura has developed a droid which, at least according to its advertising, can unload dishwashers – however the tech needed to achieve basic housework is much more complex.
Founded in 2019 by David Roger in Metzingen, the firm specialises in integrating AI with robots to allow them to ‘interact naturally with humans across various environments’.
With a £103m Series B funding round, NEURA Robotics is aiming to expand its global footprint and deliver up to 5m humanoid and cognitive robots worldwide by 2030. A number of these could make their way to construction sites.
Central to NEURA’s innovation is the Neuraverse platform, an AI-driven ecosystem that serves as both a marketplace and operating system for robotic applications.
The firm’s flagship droid is the 1.8-metre tall humanoid robot 4NE-1, designed to operate in both industrial and domestic settings. The droid can carry up to 15 kg, move at 2mph and is customisable due to its modular design.
Sensors allow it to perform tasks ranging from material handling to household chores like ironing and chopping vegetables. In an intriguing interview on the John Koetsier podcast David Reger, CEO of NEURA Robotics, stated: “It should be the best robot on the market. I’m super excited to show something in June, which will actually beat all the other humanoids [on the planet].”
The droid has been dubbed a ‘cobot’ rather than robot as it is designed to co-live with a human in a household setting.
Looking East
Globally, there are a number of robotics and droid powerhouses such as Boston Dynamics in the US, and Honda in Japan.
China established the Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre in November 2023 with an aim to accelerate the technology supply and industrialisation of humanoid robots. The winning robot from the recent Beijing marathon was built by the Beijing Innovation Centre of Human Robotics
When it established the innovation centre, the Chinese government gave the centre a target of developing a robust innovation system for humanoid robots by this year. The idea is that a raft of smaller business enterprises will help drive the technology in humanoid robotics, with an eventual aim of creating between two and three firms which have global reach, such as Boston Dynamics.
One interesting aspect of droid technology and how it will mix and evolve with advanced robotics is the ability to help on site, in particular when it comes to assembly or in-situ work
On large-scale projects, droids will be deployed to move across sites, work in dangerous areas or complete difficult tasks. Even in smaller scale building operations, droids could provide a vital component in tricky situations, such as lifting heavy beams into place. There comes a point where droids and robotics meet. In construction this area is the realm of heavy machinery and automation.
Cabless diggers
The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) has been working with Built Robotics to incorporate a bulldozer which will pilot itself for some tasks. The innovation effectively takes the operator out of the cab of the machine
According to an interview with Wired, IUOE’s director of construction training, Chris Treml, says the replacement of some human operators with robotic equivalents on sites is inevitable.
“The last thing I want to see is people losing their jobs. But this is something that’s out there and it’s going to be part of our industry, and so we want to be a part of it,” he said. Treml did however highlight that on many sites, at present there is still a need for a ‘human touch’.
The non-profit National Center for Construction Education and Research says heavy equipment operators are among the most sought after in the US, if not globally. Therefore automating the work is key to alleviating the skills shortage which has dogged construction for a decade.
As the recent Beijing marathon highlighted, the road to a humanoid future is a marathon not a sprint. Yet the coming decade could well see a droid co-robot donning its own hard hat and swiping in.
Image: Leonardo Santtos/Shutterstock
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