CAMERA: Construction and Manufacturing Enabled by a mobile Robotic Arm

建筑业占英国GDP的9%，雇佣了300万人。虽然建筑行业的规模表明，应该有很多使用机器人的机会，但采用机器人的速度很慢。项目通常是定制的，有复杂的供应链。需求也会波动，导致投资者采取规避风险的投资方式。以前的工作已经表明，单个施工任务可以高效和有效地自动化。然而，为了实现投资所需的整体效率提高，机器人和自主系统（RAS）解决方案必须能够在不同的活动（现场或临时建筑组件组装工厂）之间移动，并且可以由非专业人员轻松重新配置。机动性和定位是其中的关键组成部分，但现有的移动解决方案不适合在恶劣的、动态的环境中使用。因此，该项目将建立在建筑RAS发展的最新创新基础上。它将开发、演示和评估一个强大的移动“平台”的概念验证版本，并支持视觉和定位能力，可以在“飞行工厂”或小型产品制造工厂中支持、放置和控制机器人手臂。

Construction accounts for 9% of UK GDP, employing 3M people. Whilst the size of the construction industry suggests that there should be many opportunities for the use of robotics, uptake has been slow. Projects are often bespoke, with complex supply chains. Demand also fluctuates, leading to a risk-averse approach to investment. Previous work has shown that individual construction tasks can be efficiently and effectively automated. However, to achieve the overall efficiency improvements needed to justify investment it is essential that robotics and autonomous system (RAS) solutions can move between different activities (either on-site or in a temporary construction component assembly factory) and to be easily reconfigured by non-expert staff. Mobility and positioning is a key component of this but existing mobile solutions are not suitable for use in harsh, dynamic environments that typify construction. The project will therefore build on recent innovation in the development of construction RAS. It will develop, demonstrate and assess a proof of concept version of a robust mobile 'platform' and supporting visioning and positioning capabilities that can support, place and control a robotic arm in a 'flying factory' or small product manufacturing factory.