Cyber-Physical Construction Platform

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CYBER-PHYSICAL CONSTRUCTION PLATFORM

The aim of this project is to extend the cyber-physical construction platform developed in the previous project RP 8-1, consisting of a tower crane with image-based sensor network, a spider crane and novel gripper systems of both platforms, to autonomously perform trustworthy geo-referenced assembly tasks in absolute coordinates. In the previous phase of the project, the tower crane was automated to enable geo-referenced positioning in absolute coordinates for payloads with the tower crane as a stand-alone system. In addition, a gripper was developed that is able to incline attached payloads in two directions.

In order to achieve automated assembly, the next step is to realise autonomous load picking, to extend the environmental sensing capabilities to highly dynamic environments, allowing dynamic obstacles to be avoided during transport, and to investigate collaborative assembly for the tower and spider crane working together, supported by the image-based sensing system. For autonomous picking, the gripper developed in the previous project will be extended to pick up elements without human interaction. The prefabricated element to be transported is identified by image sensors. The crane then picks up the element, taking into account dynamic contact situations.

For the environmental sensing, the focus is on methods to derive an environmental model of the construction site that shows the current state in real time. This makes it possible to investigate avoidance strategies as soon as a dynamic obstacle interferes with the currently planned path. For assembly, we are extending the collaboration between the tower crane and the spider crane to assembly processes. For the tower crane, the main research topic is the rope-guided collaborative assembly, i.e. the rope-guided handling of payloads, taking into account the contact forces between the manipulator and existing building stock parts. The image-based sensor network is integrated into the assembly process by reconstructing the occluded areas covered by the transported prefabricated element and by tracking the surroundings of the payload.

The intended automated assembly subprocesses will be shaped by distributed, discontinuous and potentially fragmented interactions between different objects and human operators [1,2,3]. This type of increased ‘interobjectivity’ between objects such as the tower crane, spider crane, mobile fabrication platform and mobile robots within cyber-physical construction systems (CPCS) [1,3] raises social science questions about the controllability and trustworthiness of CPCS and the relationship between automation and accountability [4]. Therefore, we will examine the requirements for trust(worthiness) from the perspective of both the human machine operators and the contracting organisations: What are the prerequisites for trust in automated, hybrid technology and the related socio-technical systems? Is specific knowledge required to control a cyber-physical construction platform and to avoid risk situations? Starting from three levels of trust building (human-machine interaction, organisation, socio-technical systems), we highlight their relative importance, integration and competence requirements. By examining the conditions for a responsible and socially robust work situation in CPCS [5,6], we aim to contribute to a socially sustainable and future-proof building culture.

[1] Rammert, “Technik – Handeln – Wissen. Zu einer pragmatistischen Technik- und Sozialtheorie,“ Springer VS, Wiesbaden, 2016.
[2] B. Whitworth, “A Brief Introduction to Sociotechnical Systems,” in IGI Global (eds.). Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology, Second Edition, pp. 394–400, 2009.
[3] G. Sammut, F. Moghaddam, „Interobjectivity,“ in T. Teo (ed.) Encyclopedia of Critical Psychology, Springer, New York.
[4] Saurwein, “Emerging structures of control for algorithms on the internet. Distributed agency – distributed accountability” in T. Eberwein, S. Fengler, and M. Karmasin (eds.), Media Accountability in the era of posttruth politics, Routledge, London, pp. 196–211, 2019.
[5] C. Kropp, “Hybride Kontrolle” in F. Sprenger (ed.), Autonome Autos. Medien- und kulturwissenschaftliche Perspektiven auf die Zukunft der Mobilität, transcript, Bielefeld, pp. 85–116, 2021.
[6] N. Huchler, L. Adolph,  E. André, W. Bauer, N. Bender,  N. Müller, R. Neuburger, M. Peissner, J. Steil, S. Stowasser, and O. Suchy, “Kriterien für die menschengerechte Gestaltung der Mensch-Maschine-Interaktion bei Lernenden Systemen,” Whitepaper aus der Plattform Lernende Systeme, München, 2020.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. h.c. Oliver Sawodny
Institute for System Dynamics (ISYS), University of Stuttgart
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Uwe Sörgel
Institute for Photogrammetry (IFP), University of Stuttgart
Prof. Dr. phil. Cordula Kropp
Institute for Social Sciences (SOWI), University of Stuttgart

TEAM

apl. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Norbert Haala (IFP)
Dr.-Ing. Johannes Schüle (ISYS)
Mark Burkhardt (ISYS)
Lena Joachim (IFP)
Michael Cramer (IFP)
Philipp Arnold (ISYS)
Ann-Kathrin Wortmeier (SOWI)
Amelie Schreck (SOWI)