Every project is unique so robotics is not the answer. They need to bring trades back to high school. Some people aren't wanting a 4 year degree. Make community colleges free so men and women who don't want a degree can get educated and start working in trades right away.
Luckily we learned about parallelograms in school instead of how to do your taxes. It comes in handy during parallelogram season...
Skilled labor is definitely an issue in California.
Where it might make sense is panelized or pre-fab construction shops that some claim are coming, but I doubt it. First we had custom one-offs (pretty much all things made until the Industrial Revolution); then mass production (1900-now); next is mass customization (we're used to ordering/tailoring apps, phones, computers to our specifications, so why not cars, houses, everything else?) ...Come to think of it, we're pretty much there already.
The reason we are in a construction labor shortage crisis is that we aren't training our young people the skills required to do the work. Robotics might be able to do some work but in general, a robot isn't going to be able to work through all the detail of creating a sound/well-engineered foundation, framing, plumbing, electrical, insulation, carpentry, etc etc. Finite detail, requires years of training and doing over and over so that, you not only do the job well but the finite detail is pristine. We have raised our children to think that the best jobs are only available if they go to college and our schools have moved away from teaching our children a trade. My Dad had a trade and he knew that he would always be able to support his family because the trade in which he had skilled himself was something that everyone, at some point needs. We should raise our children to be proud of using their hands as well as their heads. And as their skill improves, they need to learn to market their skills so that others can avail themselves of their talent. Robots definitely are here to stay and in some industries, such as medical, security we are fortunate to have them as a resource. But in construction, it's a long way coming.
Perhaps we lost out some years ago when we started promoting a “service nation”. There is no country able to exist without building something. We must get back to teaching and respecting skills instead trying to make technical and professionals out of everyone. Robots cannot do everything. We still must have “grunts”.
Robotics do 2 things very well: a. Mindless repetitive tasks, and b. work in arena hazardous to human health.
When you dissect labor tasks into their lowest definable elements, they usually require human thought processes. Artificial intelligence has potential to bridge those barriers, but not yet.
Hard to predict the future, but I don't see mass use of robots in construction in the near future.
Yes the robotic approach would be great when you can remove the human or personnel factor of the client that you doing the construction project.
No on the robotic aproach, especially when you have to do the project for a person. Think about it on the basic level. I believe people are generally frustrated with the automated or robotic systems, in todays world. Especially the ones being used, and if you had to do deal with something like that on your house, or something personal. "How would you feel?" We know the world is driven by cost.
The realty is, when technology gets advanced a enough, the emotion the passion, and all the unique qualities that make things different, will be lost.
Humanity?
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Answers (1-10)
Every project is unique so robotics is not the answer. They need to bring trades back to high school. Some people aren't wanting a 4 year degree. Make community colleges free so men and women who don't want a degree can get educated and start working in trades right away. Luckily we learned about parallelograms in school instead of how to do your taxes. It comes in handy during parallelogram season... Skilled labor is definitely an issue in California.
Yes
The materials will change. They are already 3D printing communities. The technology is out of the laboratory already.
of course someone has to operate the robots. Someone has to do the quality control. But there will be fewer people who are involved.
Not the way building is done now; tasks performed by laborers are too varied to make robotics practical. For the most part, construction is too customized, sort of like cars: https://www.pcmag.com/news/mercedes-replacing-robots-with-humans
Where it might make sense is panelized or pre-fab construction shops that some claim are coming, but I doubt it. First we had custom one-offs (pretty much all things made until the Industrial Revolution); then mass production (1900-now); next is mass customization (we're used to ordering/tailoring apps, phones, computers to our specifications, so why not cars, houses, everything else?) ...Come to think of it, we're pretty much there already.
The reason we are in a construction labor shortage crisis is that we aren't training our young people the skills required to do the work. Robotics might be able to do some work but in general, a robot isn't going to be able to work through all the detail of creating a sound/well-engineered foundation, framing, plumbing, electrical, insulation, carpentry, etc etc. Finite detail, requires years of training and doing over and over so that, you not only do the job well but the finite detail is pristine. We have raised our children to think that the best jobs are only available if they go to college and our schools have moved away from teaching our children a trade. My Dad had a trade and he knew that he would always be able to support his family because the trade in which he had skilled himself was something that everyone, at some point needs. We should raise our children to be proud of using their hands as well as their heads. And as their skill improves, they need to learn to market their skills so that others can avail themselves of their talent. Robots definitely are here to stay and in some industries, such as medical, security we are fortunate to have them as a resource. But in construction, it's a long way coming.
I'd be more curious as to why there is a labor shortage in your industry sector. Which state?
No
Higher pay for those who are working
Not only will this increase production and morale it will attract future workers to the field
Perhaps we lost out some years ago when we started promoting a “service nation”. There is no country able to exist without building something. We must get back to teaching and respecting skills instead trying to make technical and professionals out of everyone. Robots cannot do everything. We still must have “grunts”.
Robotics do 2 things very well: a. Mindless repetitive tasks, and b. work in arena hazardous to human health.
When you dissect labor tasks into their lowest definable elements, they usually require human thought processes. Artificial intelligence has potential to bridge those barriers, but not yet.
Hard to predict the future, but I don't see mass use of robots in construction in the near future.
They are great way to increase production and filler when there are staffing issues
But fully integrated NO!
yes and no;
Yes the robotic approach would be great when you can remove the human or personnel factor of the client that you doing the construction project.
No on the robotic aproach, especially when you have to do the project for a person. Think about it on the basic level. I believe people are generally frustrated with the automated or robotic systems, in todays world. Especially the ones being used, and if you had to do deal with something like that on your house, or something personal. "How would you feel?" We know the world is driven by cost.
The realty is, when technology gets advanced a enough, the emotion the passion, and all the unique qualities that make things different, will be lost.
Humanity?