"China's construction industry has created many world firsts, but it is also facing problems such as poor product performance, huge waste of resources, prominent safety problems, serious environmental pollution, and low production efficiency."
At the end of the year and the beginning of the year, Country Garden Group's Bozhilin quietly made a major event to change the industry ecology in the Jinping project in Shantou - for the first time to complete the acceptance of "BIM + FMS + WMS + construction robot multi-machine construction system", which marks that construction robots have entered a new stage of multi-machine collaborative systematic application, and China's construction industry has taken another big step towards "intelligent construction".
Text | Captain Lu Ban
As the Spring Festival approaches, migrant workers have begun to return to their hometowns in large numbers, and the construction industry will face a serious cyclical "labor shortage".
"Now the project is not easy to do, although the salary of workers has generally increased, even if the monthly salary is about 10,000 yuan, there is often a shortage of construction personnel." Zhang Daiwei, the head of a construction contractor, said the construction industry is also showing an aging trend, and more young people "prefer to send couriers to the construction site."
The demographic dividend is fading, and the previous model of achieving scale growth with abundant and cheap labor is also difficult to sustain, and aging, labor shortage and rising labor costs have become bottlenecks restricting the sustainable development of the construction industry.
There are fewer and fewer practitioners and older
China is still a "big country in architecture". In 2020, the total output value of the national construction industry reached 26.4 trillion yuan, accounting for 25.88% of the gross domestic product (GDP).
However, the National Bureau of Statistics's "2020 Migrant Worker Monitoring Survey Report" also conveys a pessimistic message, the total number of migrant workers in the country decreased by 5.17 million compared with the previous year, a year-on-year decrease of 1.8%.
The construction industry is an old industry, with fewer and fewer practitioners, but also getting older. The above report also shows that in 2020, the average age of migrant workers in China was 40.8 years old, an increase of 0.6 years over 2019. Among them, the proportion of migrant workers over the age of 50 is more than 24%.
Uprooting, sleeping in the wind and facing high safety risks are also the norm for construction workers in China and around the world. At the age of 16, Zhang Daiwei, 49, went with his father to work at a construction site.
He vividly remembered that in the summer, the sun had shed its skin. In winter, the hands and feet are often frostbitten, and lying in the bed at night is itchy and painful.
"If only there was a robot moving bricks." One year, after watching a Hollywood science fiction movie, Zhang Daiwei was quickly amused by his own whimsy, who would spend a lot of money to develop a robot to move bricks?
The construction industry is one of the industries with low degree of digitalization and automation in the world, and there have always been drawbacks such as low technical content, poor production efficiency, high construction costs, serious environmental pollution, and large construction safety risks.
Most of China's construction enterprises are "big but not excellent", and most of them still stay at the level of "moving bricks, tying steel bars, pouring concrete, and installing formwork". In the face of the labor shortage crisis, Chinese real estate and construction companies represented by Country Garden are looking for a turnaround.
Today, Country Garden has used nearly three years of practice to prove that the era of "robot building houses" has arrived. In December 2021, a construction cleaning robot was in operation at the Fengtong Garden project in Shunde, Foshan, Guangdong Province.
Workers jokingly called him "Big-Eyed Boy." It has a pair of big cute eyes, and everywhere it goes, dust, debris, small stones and other construction site garbage are swept away.
"This building sweeping robot is equipped with multi-sensor fusion technologies such as lidar, ultrasonic sensors, and collision strips." The on-site personnel introduced.
▲ Construction cleaning robot
This "artifact" can not only independently plan paths, navigate independently, clean and automatically take out garbage in the construction scene, but also intelligently avoid obstacles, and the cleaning efficiency is three times that of manual.
Building construction site cleaning has always been a difficult bone to gnaw, not only small stones and dust are difficult to clean, but also manual cleaning efficiency is low, high cost, but also to the construction personnel to cause "pneumoconiosis" and other health hazards.
Characters from previous science fiction movies, such as measuring robots, intelligent servo cloth machines, and concrete ceiling polishing robots, are becoming a reality in the Country Garden Fengtong Garden project.
In February 2021, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development issued the "Letter on Agreeing to Carry out Intelligent Construction Pilots", which for the first time identified 7 "intelligent construction pilot" projects in the country, and the Country Garden Fengtong Garden Project was listed among them.
This is the first commercial application project of Country Garden Bozhilin construction robot, and the only pilot project in China that truly introduces construction robots and applies them to the engineering construction process in batches.
▲Bo Zhilin roll-up exterior wall latex paint spraying robot working at height
Safer, better, more efficient
Although he has long heard of "robots building houses", the scene in front of him still makes Zhang Daiwei stunned: a rolling exterior wall latex paint spraying robot is working, and the latex paint it sprays is uniform, delicate, and the construction efficiency is also very high. "It can also plan its own path to achieve fully automatic and all-round spraying of building exterior wall painting." Fundamentally eliminate the safety risks caused by workers working at height. ”
According to the provisions of the national standard "Classification of Operation at Heights" GB/T3608-1993, any operation at a height where the datum of the falling height is more than 2 m (including 2 m) and may fall can be identified as a high place operation. Judging from the circular of the State Council Work Safety Committee, almost every three to five years there will be accidents of death and injury in high-altitude operations.
"Construction robots have greatly reduced the hidden dangers such as falling from high altitude work and damage to the health of workers caused by building materials." Ensuring construction safety, improving construction quality and improving construction efficiency are the three core elements of our focus on the research and development of construction robots. Li Xu, senior product director of Bozhilin Robotics and Intelligent Product Research Institute, said.
▲Roll-up exterior wall latex paint spraying robot
Compared with traditional workers, construction robots rely on stronger computing power and are more reasonable and scientific in the utilization planning of building materials, which can achieve "lean construction".
Construction robots first bring amazing construction efficiency. Within two minutes, a measurement robot can complete the actual measurement of a single room, the measurement accuracy is within ±1mm, the ergonomics are more than 2-3 times that of the labor, and the report can be automatically generated according to the measurement results, which is more objective and accurate than the human eye observation; similarly, the concrete construction robot product line can also reduce the construction team from 12 to 8 people.
At the construction site of the Fengtong Garden project, more than a dozen robots such as measuring robots, intelligent follow-up cloth machines, concrete ceiling polishing robots, and exterior wall spraying robots are busy in an orderly manner.
In order to make the robots as coordinated and orderly as humans, "Primus" also developed its own BIM system, FMS system, WMS system, and opened the boundaries of the three systems, allowing them to cooperate with each other, and realized the solution of multi-robot collaboration in the construction scene of the decoration stage for the first time in the world.
This multi-machine application system at the Shantou project site is called "BIM+FMS+WMS+Construction Robot Multi-machine Construction System". First of all, the BIM collaboration platform independently developed by Bozhilin combines the master data of the project to generate a customized "BIM model map" and provides a robot construction path for the path planning system through the model map.
At the same time, according to the pre-rules, the BIM material takeoff system matches the required materials to the commodity library, associates the construction plan with the material usage, forms a construction robot construction "work order" and issues it to the FMS system.
The FMS system independently developed by BoZhilin can be called the "strongest brain" of multi-machine construction scheduling. After receiving the "work order", it orderly coordinates the robot to carry out fully automatic operation according to the path planning, which can realize the complete process of real-time monitoring of the robot, the dispatch and deployment of materials and the real-time generation of the work path, and dock with the WMS system.
▲The FMS system independently developed by Primus
Just like the traffic police during the peak traffic period, the WMS system is the virtual "traffic commander" of robot logistics transportation, with its intelligent scheduling, logistics robots will not be "stuck in traffic" in batches.
"This system successfully solves the orderly layout of robots in complex construction sites and complicated processes, and realizes efficient operation coordination between robots." Xu Anpeng, president of the Bozhilin Robot and Intelligent Products Research Institute, introduced it. In addition, Bozhilin also actively implements the national policy of deep integration of artificial intelligence and the real estate industry, and has achieved breakthroughs from scratch in the fields of intelligent evaluation of construction quality, construction big data governance, and smart site supervision.
"Digital transformation is an important way to promote the high-quality development of the construction industry, from 'China Construction' to 'China Intelligent Manufacturing' is the general trend of the development of China's construction industry." Liu Jinzhang, vice president of the China Construction Industry Association, believes that the deep integration of digitalization, intelligence and construction sites will boost the modernization of China's construction industry into the "fast lane".
From "dusty sky" and "covered with mud" to "green wisdom and wisdom to turn waste into treasure."
In the impression of the outside world, the construction site is often dust "flying in the sky", the roadside of the construction site is "covered with mud", and the environmental pollution and ecological harm caused by the construction industry are far more than this.
"China's construction industry has created many world firsts, but it is also facing problems such as poor product performance, huge waste of resources, prominent safety problems, serious environmental pollution, and low production efficiency." At the China International Project Management Summit, Ding Lieyun, a deputy to the National People's Congress and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, was worried.
At present, "carbon peak" and "carbon neutrality" are becoming a global consensus, and the Chinese government has also proposed to strive to achieve "carbon peak" by 2030 and "carbon neutrality" by 2060.
However, the "China Building Energy Consumption Research Report 2020" released by the Energy Consumption Statistics Committee of the China Building Energy Conservation Association shows that in 2018, the total energy consumption of the whole process of buildings in the country was 2.147 billion tce (ton of standard coal equivalent), accounting for 46.5% of the total energy consumption in the country.
The construction industry is a large energy consumer, and naturally it is also a large emitter. In 2018, the total carbon emissions of the whole process of construction in the country were 4.93 billion tCO2 (total carbon dioxide emissions), accounting for 51.3% of the country's carbon emissions. Therefore, promoting the construction industry to reduce energy consumption and further reduce carbon emissions is particularly important for achieving green and low-carbon development.
However, the "China Building Materials Industry Carbon Emission Report (2020)" released by the China Building Materials Federation shows that in 2020, the carbon dioxide emissions of China's building materials industry increased by 2.7% over the previous year, and the carbon dioxide emissions of the building materials industry's 10,000 yuan industrial added value also increased by 0.2% year-on-year.
As the other side of the coin, real estate and surrounding industries have contributed more than 30% to China's GDP. If we limit the development of real estate and construction, to achieve "carbon peak" and "carbon neutrality", it is tantamount to fishing and killing chickens and eggs. Therefore, it is a social consensus to promote the deep integration of informatization and industrialization in the field of engineering construction, realize intelligent construction and green construction, and promote the transformation and upgrading of China's construction industry.
Over the years, Country Garden has always regarded green environmental protection as the guiding principle of operation and management. In 2020, Country Garden added 64 new construction projects that meet the national green building evaluation standards, 46 projects that have been certified by the national green building standards, and 111 sponge city projects.
The construction robot developed by Bo Zhilin has injected a new driving force into Country Garden's "green and low-carbon intelligent construction" at the level of scientific and technological empowerment. In February 2021, a construction waste reuse mobile brick truck was put into use in Fengtong Garden, which used construction waste as raw material for local resource reuse, and trial production of recycled pavement tiles, cement bricks and so on.
As of September 15, 2021, this brick-making vehicle has accumulated 450 tons of construction waste, produced more than 200,000 pavement color bricks, and obtained 11 domestic invention patents and 3 overseas invention patents.
▲Construction waste reuse mobile brick trucks in operation
"Construction waste disposal has always been a pain point for engineering construction and urban construction, and BoZhilin's idea is to turn waste into treasure." Li Xu said that the construction waste reuse mobile brick truck is run in the form of a special operation vehicle, and the construction waste is deeply processed on the spot in a nomadic operation mode, and the construction waste is directly converted into recycled building materials products.
Piles of construction waste instantly turned into pavement tiles, grass bricks, blind road bricks and various solid concrete bricks. While producing and selling, turning waste into treasure, it also saves a lot of building materials procurement costs, construction waste clearance freight, and reduces dust pollution and carbon emissions in the transportation process.
▲ Construction waste reuses bricks made from mobile brick trucks
The construction waste reuse mobile brick-making truck developed by Bo Zhilin is only the "tip of the iceberg" of Country Garden's green development.
To achieve a number of "zero" technological breakthroughs, Primus helps the industry to go hand in hand
In July 2021, the experience and practices of the Fengtong Garden Project "Measuring Robots and Intelligent Measuring Tools" and "Construction Robots and Intelligent Construction Machinery and Equipment" were once again affirmed by the industry authorities. It was selected by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development as the "First List of Replicable Experiences and Practices for the Coordinated Development of Intelligent Construction and New Building Industrialization".
In July 2018, Country Garden Group established a wholly-owned subsidiary, Guangdong Bozhilin Robot Co., Ltd., focusing on the research and development, manufacturing and application of construction robots. Since then, in only two and a half years, Primus has realized the construction robot from independent research and development, small batch production to engineering testing, engineering services and batch commercialization.
"In a short period of time, Country Garden Group has carried out comprehensive research and development, has delivered construction robots in large quantities, and has been at the forefront of the field of intelligent construction and construction robots in the country and even the world." Professor Zhang Cymbal, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and dean of the Institute of Artificial Intelligence of Tsinghua University, commented.
Entering the second half of 2021, Country Garden began to promote the pilot project of robot housing construction at a large pace, thereby greatly enhancing market competitiveness. On December 30 of the same year, Country Garden's Bozhilin Company completed the acceptance of the multi-machine construction system of "BIM+FMS+WMS+ Construction Robot" for the first time in Shantou Jinping Project, which realized the multi-machine collaborative construction in the decoration stage for the first time through integrated scheduling of the original stand-alone equipment.
On the construction site of the Jinping project, 8 construction robots, 6 transportation and feeding robots and 5 centralized workstations carried out multi-machine linkage operations. Like an assembly line, multiple construction robots cooperate with each other and carry out autonomous construction work.
▲ The robot is automatically transporting construction materials in an orderly manner according to the WMS system
At the wall tile laying construction site, an industrial technician assisted the robot to fill the tile glue, and the brick loading robot completed the bricking action independently. Subsequently, the industrial technician selected the working area on the tablet computer, and after issuing a command with one click, the robot quickly went to the designated location to carry out the independent brick laying construction operation, the action was skillful and sharp, and a tile was pasted in less than a minute.
At the same time, the wallpaper laying robot on one side also works according to the work path, and the wallpaper paved is smooth and neat. After the job is completed, the robot will also instantly feedback the work order to the scheduled schedule.
▲Wall tile paving robot automatic operation
The successful acceptance of the multi-machine construction system in Jinping Project marks that Primus Lin construction robot has entered a new stage of multi-machine collaborative systematic application. As of December 31, 2021, Primus has put 18 construction robots into commercial applications, covering more than 350 projects in 25 provinces; more than 730 units have been delivered in total, with an application construction area of more than 7 million square meters.
Primus's products and technologies have also achieved many "zero" breakthroughs, filling a number of industry technology gaps. As of the end of November 2021, Primus has submitted 3468 valid patent applications and obtained 1670 authorizations. Related R&D products have won many awards such as China Patent Award, IF Design Award, Red Dot Award, IDEA Award, Red Star Award, Golden Reed Award and so on.
Nowadays, many of Country Garden's engineering projects have used construction robots to complete the processes with high risk coefficients and heavy operations in the construction, accumulating a lot of landing experience for China's intelligent construction, and Primus has also become the world's leading intelligent construction solution provider.
▲Putty grinding robot completes the task efficiently, and the work order feedbacks the progress of the operation
At present, the overall level of intelligent construction in the global construction industry is still in its infancy, and developed countries such as the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Australia have achieved some results in construction robots, but they are still mainly based on single-point research and development and small batch trials, and have not achieved the goal of full-cycle and systematic application of buildings.
"China has made remarkable progress in the research and development and application of general construction machinery and intelligent construction equipment such as bridge erectors and building machines." Liao Yuping, deputy director of the Department of Construction Market Supervision of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, believes that in the production of structural parts, on-site construction, etc., the application of construction robots is still in its infancy, and has not yet achieved large-scale application.
Chinese construction companies are facing opportunities for overtaking in curves. In China, all kinds of robots have been active in restaurants, shopping malls, hotels and other fields. Compared with service robots, the development and application of construction robots is still slightly inferior.
A single branch is not spring, a hundred flowers bloom in the spring and fill the garden. As an explorer and leader in the field of intelligent construction in China, Primus actively contributes to the wisdom of experience and actively participates in the construction of the standard system in the field of intelligent construction in China.
In November 2020, Bo Zhilin was invited to participate in the establishment of the "Construction Robot Professional Committee of China Engineering Construction Standardization Association", and participated in the compilation of relevant standards for construction robots and the development of industry technical exchanges.
Group standards such as "Intelligent Construction Lift" and "Exterior Wall Spraying Robot" led by Bo Zhilin have been recognized, and have participated in the formulation of two national standards, promoted a number of provincial and ministerial science and technology projects, and contributed experience and wisdom to promote the accelerated transformation and upgrading of China's construction industry to intelligent construction.