Experts explained why in Russia they still do not print at home on 3D printers.

Why is there still no 3D printing at home? When will construction workers be completely replaced by robots? On the eve of the VIII International Forum and Exhibition 100+ TechnoBuild, experts answered popular questions about the present and future of robotics in construction. At the 100+, which will be held in Yekaterinburg on October 5-7, 2021, a separate section will be devoted to this topic, but for now only a small part of the answers.

Why are multi-storey buildings already being built in China using 3D printers, but not in Russia?

Alisa Konyukhovskaya, Executive Director of the National Association of Robotics Market Participants, Board member of the International Federation of Robotics, Vice President of Global Robot Claster, cites two main reasons.

"Firstly, the cost of labor - in general, the average wage in Russia is lower than in China or Eastern Europe. This leads to the fact that it is more economically profitable to use human labor than new technologies. Secondly, there are certain standards and a regulatory framework within which everything must be implemented. And changing technologies means that standards also need to be changed. And it's quite difficult."

Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Head of the Department of Technology and Organization of Construction at NGASU (Sibstrin) Vladimir Molodin adds that Russian scientists do not have enough support to develop innovations.

"In China, promising developments receive support in the form of grants focused on real production," he says. – Builders in Russia have no incentive to invest in new technologies. At the expense of enthusiasts, a 3D printer head was created and tested in the laboratory at Sibstrin. Manufacturing an entire 3D printer for a construction site is a very expensive and unaffordable task for a university."

Which construction specialties will disappear completely due to robots, and which ones will appear?

Alisa Konyukhovskaya is skeptical that some specialties will disappear altogether, but, she says, new ones will appear.

"We see that there is an expansion of the functionality of some specialties, which requires the use of robotic technologies. And there will also be new jobs related to technology. Now, for example, drone operators who monitor the construction process may be needed for construction. There may be operators of other robotic complexes who control and maintain robots."

In her opinion, first of all, systems related to automation of routine tasks and digitalization of design and document management processes, as well as control over the performance of tasks by personnel, will be introduced in the construction segment.

An interesting example in this regard is the Robot Museum in Seoul, which plans to actively use robots in its construction.

"In this project, different types of robots perform different tasks," says Melike Altınışık Architects, founder and head of the Turkish architectural bureau Melike Altınışık. – For example, one team of robots builds a curved metal facade of a museum, saving time and money at the same time. Under the guidance of the Information Modeling System (BIM), they assemble, weld and polish metal plates. Another team of robots is 3D printing concrete for the surrounding landscape. Drones are used to inspect the building, monitor personnel, and control robotic construction vehicles."

Thus, according to Melika Altynyshik, for the first time in history, robots will take on some roles and responsibilities that they have not performed before – project manager, control manager, construction site safety manager, and others.

What should construction companies prepare for due to robotics?

According to Alice Konyukhovskaya, due to robotization, the approach to construction will have to be changed in general - robots will need to move above the construction site or indoors in a certain way.

"If we want robot couriers to deliver something directly to our apartment doors, then we need to integrate robots into the IT system of the house and provide them with a barrier-free environment," says Alice Konyukhovskaya. – Now, for example, delivery by mobile platforms to an apartment in many houses is impossible, since it is difficult for a robot to open the door to the entrance or climb the steps, to call the elevator."

Therefore, she concludes, there are two important tasks for the construction segment of robotics – on the one hand, to apply technology to their processes, and on the other, to create an infrastructure adapted for the operation of robots.

This topic will be discussed in more detail at 100+ TechnoBuild on October 5-7, 2021 at the Yekaterinburg-Expo IEC. It will be possible to attend the event offline, as well as view recordings of speakers' speeches online on the forum and exhibition website.