Technology for the Tele-Robotic Laying of Large and Small Pipes

Abstract

The labor intensive construction industry has a very high accident rate. One of the key reasons for this is the exposure of workers to a hazardous environment such as heights, confined narrow spaces, and exposure to health threatening fumes, dust, and noise. Teleoperation, which allows a construction worker to control a mechanical tool from a safe location provides a technical alternative. Because of the need to be competitive on every project-bid, contractors have to be assured that new technologies not only work in the rugged environment of a construction site but that they also reduce cost. This paper will present one example of such a technology, a remotely controlled manipulator that allows the installation of large concrete pipes. It is apparent that eliminating the presence of humans in danger zones makes OSHA regulations mute. The resulting cost savings had three sources: 1) reduction in excavation volume, 2) reduction in material to be backfilled and compacted, and 3) reduction in man-hours. While successful, the field tests also highlighted opportunities for improvements which led to a new development phase.