CUHK experts take robotics innovation to new heights
A research team led by Prof. Darwin Lau (right) has created a cable-driven robot to work at high-rise buildings that alleviates dependence on human labour.
A research team from CUHK has created an innovative cable-driven robot that can clean the windows and paint the facades of high-rise buildings by accurately mimicking human movements. By replacing human labour, this inventive solution can relieve manpower shortages and reduce safety risks and occupational hazards in the construction industry.
With the global construction industry plagued by labour shortages in recent years, making construction work safer is crucial for attracting and retaining workers. At present, window cleaners and painters are typically carried up skyscrapers and tall buildings by gondola systems. However, working in mid-air in the heat, wind and rain exposes them to harsh and dangerous conditions and can involve long working hours. It is also expensive to insure workers to carry out such high-risk tasks.
Better worker safety through automation
To solve this problem, a research team led by Prof. Darwin Lau of the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering has developed a cable-driven robot system that alleviates dependence on human labour. The movement of the robot and its platform can be programmed to clean windows or paint automatically.
Uniquely, the system combines the dexterity of robot arms with the cable-driven robot’s ability to work at large scales and perform complex movements. The system can also operate on surfaces that are not completely flat, widening the scope of potential applications.
Prof. Lau explained, ‘With the increasing demands on housing and an ageing workforce, the development of building construction and maintenance robotics technology potentially represents a game changer both for construction workers as well as industry and the wider community. With the use of the system, workers will no longer be exposed to high-risk environments or work in mid-air, helping to reduce accidents.’
The sky’s the limit
With funding support from the Innovation and Technology Fund of the Hong Kong Government and Chun Wo Construction Holdings Company Limited (Chun Wo), a robotic system has been set up outside a building on the CUHK campus to study its applicability in a real-world environment. Chun Wo has already applied for a patent and intends to use it on construction sites after conducting further research. The company has also provided data to train the robot’s gestures so that it cleans windows just like a human worker.
Prof. Lau said, ‘This is an exciting university-industry collaboration that has received generous support from government and Chun Wo, and we believe this novel technology will deliver exciting benefits.’
Besides, Prof. Lau has developed a cable-driven inspection robot for high-rise building facade. This innovation uses robotics technology to conduct contact-based facade inspections through hammer tapping. It does not only reduce the risk to workers from working at heights, but also provides a quantitative and digital diagnosis for the industry. This project received the Silver Medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva 2022 and the Young Innovators Prize of the Construction Innovation Award 2022 of the Hong Kong Construction Industry Council. Watch the video to learn more about the project:
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