Tech
How Autonomous Robots Are Changing Construction
There’s a lot of buzz around self-driving cars, but autonomous-driving technology could revolutionize a different industry first — construction. That industry hasn’t changed much over the last several decades, according to some experts, making it an ideal candidate for automation.
“The way we build today is largely unchanged from the way we used to build 50 years ago,” said Gaurav Kikani, vice president of Built Robotics. “Within two years, I think we’re really going to turn the corner, and you’re going to see an explosion of robotics being used on construction sites.”
The industry is also faced with a labor shortage that the Covid-19 pandemic has further complicated.
“Covid is making people step back and say, ‘hey, the way we’ve been doing things for a long time is just not sustainable,’” said Kevin Albert, founder and CEO of Canvas. “It is just a wake-up call for the industry.”
Canvas is one of several companies working on autonomous construction technology. Big players like Caterpillar and Komatsu, and start-ups like SafeAI and Built Robotics, see value in using autonomous machines to accelerate construction projects.
The mining industry was one of the first to employ the use of self-driving tech. Caterpillar began its first autonomy program more than 30 years ago. The company now has the largest fleet of autonomous haul trucks. Caterpillar says it’s hauled 2 billion metric tons in just over six years.
Built Robotics is a San Francisco-based start-up founded by an ex-Google engineer that already has machinery out in the field. It’s automated several pieces of equipment, such as bulldozers and excavators.
“You can now collapse your construction timeline so you can knock out work overnight so that it’s ready for your human workers in the morning to speed them along,” Kikani said.
SafeAI is another Silicon Valley start-up. It recently teamed up with Obayashi for a pilot program. It’s been retrofitting equipment like dump trucks, bulldozers and loaders.
Robots are also helping inside. San Francisco-based Canvas created an autonomous machine for finishing drywall and has worked on projects like the San Francisco International Airport and Chase Arena. Humans work alongside its robotic system.
“Drywall is very hard work on the body,” Albert said. “And we’ve seen that 1 out of every 4 workers has to end their career early because of injuries. This will create longer careers for people and also enable people to join the trades that haven’t had access before.”
The construction industry is one of the largest sectors in the global economy, with about $10 trillion spent each year. That spending accounts for 13% of the world’s GDP, even though the sector’s annual productivity growth has only increased 1% over the past 20 years. According to McKinsey & Co., $1.6 trillion of additional value could be created through higher productivity, and autonomy would help the industry achieve that.
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How Autonomous Robots Are Changing Construction
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@vj.joseph
December 31, 2023 at 7:10 pm
Excellent. 👍
@barriewright2857
December 31, 2023 at 7:10 pm
Orsome technology and will benefit society in huge ways. From some of the comments i have read, i see the reality of this technology on the every day working person, but the benefits outweigh the losses. In the long term everyone wins.
@eddyr1041
December 31, 2023 at 7:10 pm
These are really needed… include cleaning up for us and our earth after building mining etc
@jaibirsinghbatth3804
December 31, 2023 at 7:10 pm
6:41 "Return is going to be massive…" for whom? Just for the owners of these corporate companies owning the robots. A clear plan to make the rich richer and the poor poorer.
@ericphantri96734
December 31, 2023 at 7:10 pm
This save pc industry and reduce fear of missile attack because people mixing and as ability to move around and so missile attacks or bombing become useless
@SevtapThurston
December 31, 2023 at 7:10 pm
Unfortunately from the day one of the Covid pandemi, I thought that the robots will be taking our jobs, people will get used to not working full-day being unemployed having less money. Robots were coming anyway but it has speeded up the process. Don't you think it is nuissance, afterall people need to work to earn a living! And even to feel useful!
@crishill6458
December 31, 2023 at 7:10 pm
They are not changing construction, every robot shown laying bricks and blocks really isn't doing the complete job, really poor quality construction
@morpheusmatrix9207
December 31, 2023 at 7:10 pm
Mr engineer we need you to build a robot that automates engineering
Engineer: "yes sir right away sir"
@mimusic1853
December 31, 2023 at 7:10 pm
The day a machine can repair itself after popping a track off the sprocket, I’ll go home. Good luck Rosie from The Jetsons 🤖
@MrUranium238
December 31, 2023 at 7:10 pm
and what if they decide to unionize?
@michaelkasili
December 31, 2023 at 7:10 pm
This is what nobody is taught in schools anymore, that whatever you are learning is obsolete and 1 day you will be replaced by a robot…biggest scam in history!
@ericpham5198
December 31, 2023 at 7:10 pm
Uber and Lyft can provide options for rider to chose if they like driverless or driver it is perfect improvement for cruise m works
@Xhopp3r
December 31, 2023 at 7:10 pm
Automate your heart out. Until there are no humans left.
@kenwiley8453
December 31, 2023 at 7:10 pm
1:50 saying that the world only spends about $10 Trillion each year for all construction projects of the world is just silly because in hong kong construction projects alone are worth at least $50 Trillion proof of concept look at how many apartment buildings are being constructed annually and look at the cost estimators reports for those private construction companies in short i think who ever is doing this report is clearly underestimating annual global construction cost for all people vs just the presumed sampled few thousand give or take
@madhumithapremkumar3744
December 31, 2023 at 7:10 pm
Construction sector is a tough, labour oriented sector, hence robot machineries can be introduced in this sector. But replacing the labour with machinery should not hinder to the employment of construction workers.
@robertlee8805
December 31, 2023 at 7:10 pm
Great Informative video by the Great crews of CNBC. Could the narrator please speak a little more louder or up to your guests I could barely hear her. And her voice died out at the end of her sentences. I do want to hear her voice just as much as her guests. Thank you Producer of this video.
@Jarod-vg9wq
December 31, 2023 at 7:10 pm
The pandemic already accelerated this change, this year we will see more automated construction
@wrecker8236
December 31, 2023 at 7:10 pm
yeah, maybe dump trucks can be automated but excavators and skid steers? no, they require a human touch to operate.
@toivoremes7273
December 31, 2023 at 7:10 pm
WC puhtaaksi.
@skidmarks4360
December 31, 2023 at 7:10 pm
Why isn’t road construction, or at least Highway construction automated? Think that would be the easiest to automate
@ryanolep1078
December 31, 2023 at 7:10 pm
Probably mostly good for mining operations.
@jaywaterman634
December 31, 2023 at 7:10 pm
I see dis being use on mars not earth
@vincentmangal6169
December 31, 2023 at 7:10 pm
This is how it starts… but hey, I amongst the few rare individuals understand the need for adaptation not just to survive but to thrive. Build yourself to thrive in the next 100 years. It's hard now but trust me your saving yourself time, energy, mental health and money by thinking this way.