Assembling Wall Panels with Robotic Technologies

Robots are only incidentally used to assemble wall panels in high-rise buildings, even though robotic technologies for various applications are available. These applications can improve construction site safety and increase the productivity of the assembly process. A research project initiated at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU e) in the Netherlands aims to develop an integral design for a curtain wall. The curtain wall’s assembly, disassembly and user functions are integrated into a single concept. The focus lies on the assembly disassembly process and the use ofnew robotic technologies. This paper presents the initial results of a survey of currently available strategies for the assembly of curtain wall systems, a description of the functions and the design requirements. The purpose of this research is to explore the limits of currently available robotic technologies in designing a curtain wall for the entire life cycle.