Beyond Lego, beyond 3D House printing
LoopyByteloose
Posts: 12,537
A new issue of Engineering News Report arrived today (dated March 10, 2014) with Robot Workers on the cover.
I had my doubts about this as the Operating Engineers and Laborer unions really might shun such changes. Most of the article covered robots that are 'not quite ready for prime time'. But the one that really makes sense is a SAM (Semi-Autonomous Mason).
Apparently this is a product from a small company in Rochester, N.Y. called Constrution Robotics. It seems so obvious, but SAM does weight 1,500 lbs.
And on page 42 of the issue is a ranking of probablity of various contruction jobs being automated by robots. Operating engineers is highest at 0.95, with conrete finishers ranked 0.94. Roofers come in a .90. So a robot that can lay down shingles might be another. Brick masons are at 0.82. And lots more.
The main point is that there is a lot of material here that targets individual tasks rather than the rather naive idea that a whole house can be 3D printed.
I had my doubts about this as the Operating Engineers and Laborer unions really might shun such changes. Most of the article covered robots that are 'not quite ready for prime time'. But the one that really makes sense is a SAM (Semi-Autonomous Mason).
Apparently this is a product from a small company in Rochester, N.Y. called Constrution Robotics. It seems so obvious, but SAM does weight 1,500 lbs.
And on page 42 of the issue is a ranking of probablity of various contruction jobs being automated by robots. Operating engineers is highest at 0.95, with conrete finishers ranked 0.94. Roofers come in a .90. So a robot that can lay down shingles might be another. Brick masons are at 0.82. And lots more.
The main point is that there is a lot of material here that targets individual tasks rather than the rather naive idea that a whole house can be 3D printed.
Comments
It is a very real question. Engineering New Record is a McGraw-Hill publication that generally reflects the views of the top end of the construction industry is the USA.
If people can't create economic value out of a skill set or and educational credential, what are realistic future careers?
I found the concept of a Semi-Automatic Mason both exciting and worrisome. It claims that it will retain the jobs for masons, but triple the daily output with equal quality.
Everyone needs an occupation that allows them to prosper. I really have no idea what the future holds.
Sadly, this may be more truth than fiction:
It is an interesting machine, but doesn't really take into account that feeding bricks from a pallet and mortar from a scaled down concrete pump might substantially streamline the process.
I also can't help but think that the scaffolding and alignment systems are geared mostly toward providing masons with work along side the machine. That may be a wise move politically to get the machines accepted on the job site. But in the long run, I suspect the human element will be pushed out.
So there is plenty of room for mechanical engineers to make this work better. And lots of opportunity for alternative patents.