Pros and cons of bricklaying robots | Construction Robotics

Описание: Bricklaying is just one of the many antiquated fields in the building construction industry. It has barely changed since the invention of bricks back in 7000BC. These earliest bricks were made from clayey soil that were sometimes mixed with straw and was dried in the sun until they were strong enough for use. These were also called mud bricks. Let’s remember that the term ‘brick’ is a generic word encompassing a wide variety of products in the shape of a cuboid. A few thousand years later, in 3500 BC, humans moved to kiln fired bricks which was popular in cooler climates. Romans spread the knowledge of fired bricks far and wide across Europe thanks to their mobile kilns.

Bricklaying has long been recognized as a tedious and laborious trade that takes a toll on the human body. Masonry workers often develop shoulder, arm, wrist, and back problems and are essentially trading their body for a paycheck. SAM100, short for Semi-Automated Mason, is a bricklaying robot designed and engineered by Construction Robotics. Scott Peters, an engineer, and his father-in-law Nate Podkaminer, an architect, conceived the idea of the robot that wouldn’t replace construction workers, but just enhance their capabilities and lower the risks to their health and safety by reducing lifting of bricks by 80%. SAM100 can place between 300 and 400 bricks an hour, compared to a human which can lay around 60 to 75 bricks an hour. It uses a metal robotic arm to spread mortar on bricks before a laser-guided system lays the bricks in rows. It is best used on large, continuous surfaces like the facades of schools and factories.

But there are some drawbacks to this robot. First off, it costs $500,000. This huge upfront cost will deter a lot of companies, especially smaller builders. Other limitations are that it cannot build corners, bricks around window openings and it cannot adjust coursing or plumbness if the site conditions aren’t ideal. The reliance on humans is also a drawback. It requires masons to feed the bricks, premix the mortar to the right consistency and feed that too. Masons also have to clean up excess mortar and finish the tuck pointing. Another disappointment is the speed at which it works. Finally, the biggest flaw in my opinion is the fact that we aren’t rethinking brick laying. The company has built this fantastic robot that is automating an antiquated task with so many variables and unknowns rather than proposing a new way of constructing a brick wall that is optimized for automation. A new way that removes all the previous variables like preparing the perfect mortar mixture with the right slump, relying on humans to install brick ties, ensuring the courses are perfectly level, etc.

Novabrick is one example that could change the bricklaying industry and it could be ideal for automation. It is a self-ventilated, mortarless brick cladding system established in Canada in 1996. The bricks are made of high-strength concrete with a rockface or smooth face texture. Rather than the typical cuboidal bricks, these Novabriks have tongue-in-groove joints so they can be easily slotted in place. The installation method required no mortar, they are screwed into vertical battens every fourth row. It provides all the aesthetics of brick, without the hassle of mortar. The company estimates that the installation can be 3 times faster than traditional brick. Now, I’m not saying that Novabriks are the solution but they embody the principles that can change the bricklaying process. There are fewer variable and the installation is easier to automate.
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SOURCES:
   • Primitive Technology: Fired Clay Bricks  
   • Building a Brick House (1946) — Postwar Ho...  
   • Mechanical Bricklayer (1967)  
   • This Bricklaying Robot Can Build Walls Fas...  
   • Masonry Construction Robot laying Bricks o...  
   • Meet SAM, the bricklaying robot  
   • Bricklayers and masons compete to advance ...  
   • Видео  
   • Видео  
   • Construction Robotics MULE and SAM Video  
   • Charlie Chaplin   At the Construction Site  
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