Kier trialling autonomous robots on sites – Construction News

Kier is to use autonomousrobots on its sites to save time on capturing data and images.

The devices, created by Barcelona-based startup Scaled Robotics, create a 3D map of a site at the internal fit-out stage.

The robots use a mixture of data, including spatial and time measurements and 360-degree images, to produce a detailed digital replica of their surroundings. These maps can then be compared to the company's original BIM model to assess build quality.

Scaled Robotics CEO Stuart Maggs said: In the UK we're working with Kier. We're doing a big pilot with them next year.

Speaking toConstruction News at the Autodesk University expo in Las Vegas,Mr Maggs said he could not say which specific projects the robots would be deployed on, but that an announcement would be made later.

The companys robots will be available for contractors to rent from early next year.

Asked how much Kier would be spending on the product he did not give an exact figure, but added: We are not talking crazy money, we are talking in the order of a couple of thousand [pounds] a month for the software, at least.

The CEO said that the robot could capture complete data for a 2,000 sq m floor plan in 40-50 minutes, which would take a human up to seven hours.

He said: All this is doing is giving the site manager an overview of their site that they would have never had before.

This robot can't pick up the phone and shout at a subcontractor or organise and liaise ten different work units to get everything done. It is only giving you better information.

It's not taking away anyone's job. It's just allowing you to reduce risk and uncertainty on your site, he said.

Kier has previously trialled Scaled Robotics technology on a school build in London and another site in Cambridge.

Kier Strategic Projects head of BIM James Franklin said: We were really impressed with the data provided to us and the robots ability to show us how accurately were replicating the BIM model, as well as progress on site.

We are currently looking at ways that we can continue to work with Scaled Robotics on our sites in the future and we look forward to working with the technology as it develops.

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Kier trialling autonomous robots on sites - Construction News