Construction Robotics for On-Site Automation: A Review of Research and Applications
Authors: Yu, H., Li, E., Linh, N.V., Cang, S., Zhao, J., Li, Y.
Journal: Proceedings of Isoirs 2026 Moving Towards Embodied Intelligence in the AI Age 2026 6th International Symposium on Intelligent Robotics and Systems
Publication Date: 01/01/2026
DOI: 10.1109/ISOIRS70157.2026.11545216
Abstract:On-site construction and renovation remain among the least productive and most resource-intensive industrial activities due to labour-intensive workflows, limited digital integration, and dynamic site conditions. Unlike industrial robots in structured factories or disaster robots in unstructured environments, construction robots operate in semi-structured sites with evolving geometry, incomplete digital information, and continuous human presence, creating both deployment challenges and automation opportunities. This paper reviews on-site construction robotics with emphasis on digital workflow integration and field performance. Existing research is organised into three application domains-assembly and placement, inspection and mapping, and drilling and surface operations-and analysed through a digital workflow stack including BIM-to-robot execution, simulation-informed planning, digital twins for closed-loop coordination, and perception-semantic integration. Reported deployments are synthesised using performance indicators such as cycle time, setup efficiency, geometric accuracy, rework reduction, ergonomic workload, and resource efficiency. Key barriers-including perception robustness, interoperability, safety assurance, and workforce adaptation-are discussed to outline research directions for scalable and sustainable construction robotics.
Source: Scopus