SBIR Phase II: Semi-Automated Masonry (SAM) Robotic System

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目将专注于开发一种商业上可行的机器人半自动砖石(SAM)系统。这种SAM系统将通过显著提高使用自动化的砖墙建筑的效率和吞吐量，从而为建筑业带来革命性的变化。SAM系统将出租或出售给砖石承包商。正在开发的核心技术结合了专有的传感、控制系统和砂浆分配，以实现计算机辅助设计(CAD)驱动的高精度自动砌砖能力。第二阶段项目将侧重于开发和整合该系统的关键技术组件。第二阶段拨款的主要技术目标是(1)完全集成砂浆泵送和测量系统，(2)在所有工地条件下实现砖的准确放置，(3)开发CAD到砖的绘图软件，以及(4)为产品的商业可行性做好准备。此外，我们将进行一些现场演示，以证明商业上的可行性。该项目将扩大商业机器人的范围，并扩大整个建筑业的可能性范围。在第二阶段项目期间，将继续开发许多新技术，以便从原型到测试，并最终实现商业准备。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是一项彻底改变砖石建筑行业的技术。SAM机器人系统将提供许多显著的社会效益，包括更可预测和可靠的工作，对泥瓦匠的物理需求更少，更低的成本和更大的砖使用设计灵活性。通过减少对泥瓦匠的身体要求和增加技术的使用，它将提供显著的健康益处，有效地延长老年泥瓦匠的工作寿命，并吸引更年轻的泥瓦匠进入该行业。以砖为基础的建筑在全球和美国经济中占很大比例，国内所有砖石工程的支出超过200亿美元，仅商业砖石工程就花费超过50亿美元。这种SAM系统所提供的效率的显著提高将使砖砌块更容易负担得起。这可能会导致砖块行业的增长，从而为环境和客户带来许多好处，如节约能源和资源。通过世界上第一个机器人半自动砖石系统的商业化，该项目将有助于扩大行业的能力，并重振砖石行业。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will focus on the development of a commercially-viable robotic Semi-Automated Masonry (SAM) system. This SAM system will revolutionize the construction industry by significantly increasing the efficiency and throughput of brick wall construction using automation. The SAM system will be leased or sold to masonry contractors. The core technology being developed incorporates proprietary sensing, control systems, and mortar dispensing to achieve computer aided design (CAD)-driven, highly accurate automated bricklaying capability. The Phase II project will focus on developing and integrating key technical components of the system. The main technical objectives for the Phase II grant are to (1) fully integrate a mortar pumping and measurement system, (2) achieve brick placement accuracy during all jobsite conditions, (3) develop CAD to brick mapping software, and (4) to prepare the product for commercial viability. In addition, we will perform a number of site demonstrations to prove commercial viability. This project will stretch the bounds of commercial robotics as well as expand the scope of possibilities across the construction industry. Many new technologies will continue to be developed during the Phase II project in order to progress from prototyping to testing, and eventually commercial readiness. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is a technology to revolutionize the masonry construction industry. The SAM robotic system will provide many significant societal benefits including more predictable and reliable work, less physical demand on masons, lower costs and more design flexibility for the use of brick. By reducing the physical demands on the mason and increasing the use of technology, it will provide significant health benefits, effectively increasing the work life of older masons and attracting younger masons to the industry. Brick-based construction represents a significant portion of the global and U.S. economies, with over $20 billion spent on all domestic masonry work, and over $5 billion spent on commercial brick masonry alone. The significant increase in efficiency provided by this SAM system will make brick masonry more affordable. This could potentially lead to growth of the brick industry, resulting in many environmental and customer benefits such as energy and resource conservation. Through commercialization of the world's first robotic Semi-Automated masonry system, this project will help to expand the capability of an industry and revitalize the masonry trade.