The equipment is specifically designed to establish a fixed or semi-fixed multitask construction robotics system (MCRS). The overall goal of the research is to study the adaptability of high-technology to today's construction processes. This will be accomplished by studying the flexibility of certain construction operations to modification. Concepts developed for other industries will be studied. The equipment provides the opportunity to emulate automated data acquisition systems, fixed and semi-fixed flexible manufacturing systems, automated quality control and automated material management in simulated real world conditions. It is hoped that by experimenting and emulating a variety of construction processes, a knowledge base can be established for important production oriented problems, improving the quality and verifying the findings gained from the three related research projects. This equipment will improve the quality and broaden the scope of two major research grants presently funded by NSF (Grant MSM 86-15187 entitled "Adaption of FMS Concepts to Construction", and Grant CEE 86-96051 entitled "Robotics Feasibility in the Construction Industry"). It will also help to support a research project funded by the Navy in the area of automated construction.
