A new humanoid robot can start performing physically taxing and dangerous work for humans at construction sites and production locations. Such robots can help address workforce shortages caused by an ageing population, among other things. In addition, humanoid robots can help increase safety on construction sites and reduce work-related injuries, among other things.
It is the HRP-5P, a robot developed by the Humanoid Research Group of Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). The HRP-5P is a humanoid robot, a category of robots that are very similar to humans. For instance, the robot moves around using two legs and its arms are used to manipulate objects, among other things. The HRP-5P weighs 101 kilograms and stands 182 centimetres tall. The robot is part of the HRP series of humanoid robots developed by the institute to demonstrate its capabilities.
Special couplings as joints
Incidentally, there are some differences between the way the HRP-5P and humans move. For instance, the robot's neck offers two degrees of freedom, its waist three degrees of freedom, each arm eight degrees of freedom, the legs both six degrees of freedom and each hand two degrees of freedom. This is still less than humans.
To compensate for this and still be able to mimic human movements, the HRP-5P is equipped with special couplings, which act as joints. These joints allow the robot to move its arms and legs much more flexibly than humans. For example, a human's hip offers a range of motion of about 140 degrees, while in the HRP-5P it is 202 degrees. In addition, the robot can rotate its wrist 300 degrees and thus rotate its hand almost completely.
Despite the fact that the HRP-5P's movements are very similar to those of humans, its different characteristics also allow for different postures. For example, the robot can sink much further through its squat than a human can. Also, the robot is able to rotate its upper body much further relative to its lower body than humans can.
Manipulating large objects
Compared to its predecessor, the HRP-5P features a more powerful motor and better-cooled drive unit. A number of clutches also feature multiple motors, increasing their torque and maximum speed compared to predecessors in the HRP range. This makes it possible to manipulate large objects, citing as an example an 1800 x 900 x 12 mm plywood board weighing about 12 kilograms or an 1820 x 910 x 10 mm plasterboard weighing about 11 kilograms.
Using sensors built into the HRP-5P's head, the robot continuously monitors its surroundings. By using a large number of sensors, these are able to compensate and complement each other. If the robot's vision is limited by obstacles, by combining measurement data and comparing it with previous measurements, the robot can still get a good picture of its surroundings. Thanks to a neural network, the robot can recognise objects, such as tools that can be used to perform tasks.
Building drywall
To demonstrate the robot's application, researchers at AIST trained the HRP-5P to autonomously build a drywall. The process works as follows:
- The robot creates a three-dimensional map of its surroundings and maps objects in its vicinity. The robot then walks towards its workbench to start building the wall
- Arriving at the workbench, the robot picks up a plasterboard from a pile of drywall ready to go
- The robot transports this plasterboard to the wall, mapping its surroundings in the process
- The drywall is positioned by the robot and placed against the frame of the wall
- The robot attaches drywall to the wall using screws and holds the drywall steady with one hand
What this looks like in practice is shown in the video below.
Addressing staff shortages
With the HRP-5P, AIST hopes to provide an answer to declining birth rates and the increasing ageing population, something not only Japan but also Europe is facing. It is expected that all kinds of sectors including construction will face staff shortages as a result. By having robots take over work from humans, the institute hopes to alleviate this shortage. Because humanoid robots have the same shape as humans and can perform actions in similar ways, these robots can be deployed without having to adapt the working environment accordingly. This simplifies the deployment of the robots.
Hydrian X
By the way, AIST is not the only party that wants to use robots to address labour shortages in the construction industry. Australia's Fastbrick Robotics, for instance, has been working for some time on the Hadrian X, a bricklaying robot that can brick over 1,000 bricks per hour and automatically supply bricks with mortar. With this robot, the company aims to address the growing shortage of bricklayers in northern Australia. Caterpillar has invested US$2 million in the company.
The Hydrian X consists of a truck equipped with a robot arm as long as 30 metres. Thanks to this robot arm, the robot can place bricks on a wall to be built at almost any location without having to move the truck to do so. The robot can be driven to any location via road and can brick an entire house in just two days, according to Fastbrick Robotics. This house is built using a 3D model, eliminating the need to instruct the robot during bricklaying.
3D printing homes
Dubai has also been betting on 3D printing homes for some time. The first building built entirely with a 3D printer was opened back in 2016. This building was constructed from different modules produced using additive manufacturing. These modules were then assembled on site using a crane to create the final building.
The emirate aims to have a quarter of all new buildings produced using additive manufacturing by 2025. This ambition is part of a roadmap called 'Dubai Future Foundation', which aims to make the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Dubai the 3D printing hub of the world by 2030.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Source: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
Source: Fastbrick Technologies
Source: World Economic Forum
Source: Dubai Future Foundation
