Content area
Abstract
Construction projects are exposed to high levels of uncertainty, both external and internal. Proactive planning around these uncertainties is complicated by the many resource interactions and interdependencies needed for the completion of most construction tasks. Exposure to uncertainty and a high sensitivity to that uncertainty makes project schedules more vulnerable to delay. The application of human-robot collaboration (HRC) in construction tasks has the potential to reduce uncertainty related to labor, but may increase vulnerability in other unexpected ways. This study explores how HRC in a subset of construction tasks affects project vulnerability to simulated disruptions. Data from jobsite observations and worker interviews are used to develop two meta-network models of a construction process. One model incorporates a semi- automated robot in a HRC application, while the other model consists of exclusively human crews.
The results shows that this specific HRC application exhibits higher resilience to typical changes, such as material shortage and power outage, in comparison to human crews. However, it demonstrates lower resilience when facing specific disruptions that directly impact either the robot or the operator like operator sickness, robot malfunction, and loss of WiFi connection. These research findings are valuable for decision makers, as they highlight that the adoption of an HRC application does not necessarily result in an overall increase or decrease in the project's resiliency. The decision to utilize HRC applications should be project-dependent and require the implementation of more resilient planning strategies. This research provides insights that can aid decision makers in understanding the appropriate use of HRC applications and in developing more resilient plans for their projects, and also provide guidance to robotic manufacturers improving the integration of their systems on construction projects.