4 Evaluate Solutions

Objective: Evaluating robots in construction projects requires a thorough plan considering various options, resources, and team engagement. This step guides the effective implementation of robot systems (see Figure 4-1).

Figure 4.1. Process of Evaluate Solutions

Create an Implementation Plan for Robots:

There are five core factors to be included in an implementation plan for robots. A template worksheet to develop this plan can be found in Appendix E.

1. Feasibility of Robots

One critical factor in the implementation plan is evaluating each robot’s feasibility from multiple perspectives. There could be challenges from the robot function itself that needs to be captured. For example, there could be a connectivity issue where robotics needs it, but the site has difficulty providing that.  One resource to use here is the list created as part of the Robotics Evaluation Framework by Brosque, C. et al. (2020). This evaluates the robotics feasibility from Product, Organization, and Process. This can be found in Appendix F.

2. Additional Resource

Once the feasibility of the robot is determined, it is also important to identify additional resources needed besides the robot itself that must be considered in the planning phase. For example, an additional generator to charge the robots may be needed for the implementation of battery-based robots. This could affect the site logistics issue that needs coordination. Also, it is important to capture the cost of these additional resources for implementation.

3. Schedule

It is crucial to secure robots to show up on-site in a timely manner. Also, the expected time required to execute the tasks by the robots, including set up and onboarding, should be clear in order to align with the project milestones. Even if the goal of implementing robots is not to boost productivity, the need for schedule coordination between predecessor and successor should be considered.

4. Site Logistics

Site layout when using robots should be clear and reasonable for the team to implement robots. Often on the site, trades share some areas of their work, but having robots could share some areas. This might cause additional problems if not specified earlier. For example, some robots need the floor to be fully cleared without any workers close before execution, but that might not be ideal in terms of schedule, so this holds a critical factor in the implementation plan.

5. Onboarding

Training and skill development to run robots at the construction site may be needed to implement robots. Some robots might need an additional license to manipulate. It helps the team understand the onboarding procedure so that the team has enough preparation time before execution. There are some cases where site engineers need on-site training from the producers of robots. This could be related not only to controlling the robots but also to preparing input data. For example, outdoor layout robots need lists of coordinates to mark on site, which have to be prepared by the site engineers or potentially by the designers.

Stakeholder Buy-In and Concerns:

Once an implementation plan is created for each robot, gathering feedback and getting stakeholders’ buy-in is essential. This activity is highly recommended, especially if any trades will be affected by the implementation of robots. It is also helpful to refer back to stakeholder analysis in Chapter 2. At the end of these, the project team will have a refined implementation plan for construction robots.