Unmanned Systems to Mitigate Safety Concerns in the Built Environment
(Room Innovation Hub-- Booth 2727)
05 May 16
10:00 AM
-
4:00 PM
Tracks:
Air, Commercial, Construction + Mining, Research and Development
The future will provide an increasing number of autonomous unmanned systems; e.g. tools and vehicles, to be used by construction professionals in the construction industry. Both academic and construction professionals are charged with making the construction industry a safe and efficient environment. As a worldwide industry, construction professionals have spent untold hours and countless dollars automating tasks and manning equipment to increase safety and efficiency. Man’s early construction efforts were accomplished by muscle power, both human and beast. The artifacts of man’s endeavors are commonly referred to as the “built-environment,” as opposed to the “natural environment.” Then, in 1864, Ferdinand de Lesseps launched 300 steam-powered mechanical-manned dredging machines to assist in the construction of the Suez Canal. This development was the beginning of the transition process of muscle labor into a new age of Manned Equipment. Today’s growing demand for more complex construction is the basis for a reversal in thinking that involves removing the human aspect from the equipment. Unmanned systems are emerging to assist with hazardous tasks, such as inspections and excavation, and with construction tasks, such as heavy civil, demolition, and emergency response. While humans have the capacity to interpret the environment and determine the appropriate action to take in order to ensure task completion while minimizing the danger to other humans, current autonomous systems do not that exhibit that capability at the same level as their human counter-parts, thus raising concern regarding their ability to ensure safety and still be effective. This paper will examine the environment and construction designs in which unmanned construction systems are currently employed and identify relevant safety-related concerns, including the ability of the autonomous unmanned system to accurately identify environmental elements and make the appropriate decisions based upon the situation. This paper will address whether the current state of autonomy in unmanned construction equipment is sufficient to guarantee system safety and conclude with a proposed multi-tasking unmanned/autonomous system with situational awareness that can function as equipment operator and inspector to increase safety, and with an example of a Command and Control/Situational Awareness precept. .