**3.5 Distributed robot systems**

Urban robotics is a research field situated between smart/sensible city research and robotics research. Its goal is to develop cutting-edge technologies as well as application scenarios for urban life supported by robotic devices. The research field is pioneered by T. Hasegawa and his Town Management System enabling robots to outsource complexity to sensors and vision systems distributed in the city environment [4]. Other interesting impulses in this research field are coming from research on smart cars and e-government. Furthermore, NASA accounts controlled traffic systems and smart grid energy systems as so called "Immobile Robots" [25].

Exoskeleton and Humanoid Robotic Technology in Construction and Built Environment 139

Fig. 17. Tele-operated robot and construction system consisting of multiple subsystems for

By implementing robotic technology in construction and building technology, the degree of autonomy of the robotic system has to be considered. In general, the degree of autonomy of a robotic system is closely correlated to its work tasks it can perform. Work tasks can be classified into work tasks which are structured and standardized on the one hand and unstructured and not standardized work tasks on the other hand. For example, on the lowest level, resources and materials are processed using robots in standardized conditions. However, the assembly of building kits is done in a less structured environment and thus needs robotic systems which are more flexible. Up to today, it was difficult to apply humanoids to other autonomous complex robot technology in work tasks as building kit assembly and service. Yet, advancements in structuring environments and information about the environment for robotic systems on the one hand, and robot control technology and artificial intelligence on the other hand, lead to the fact that all highly autonomous systems can increasingly be applied in service

automated construction on moon or mars, Japan, Shimizu Corporation.

**4. Relation of system complexity and work task complexity** 

Copyright T. Bock, Shimizu Space Project

environments.

Application in Construction/Building: Distributed robot systems enable robots to execute various tasks for ordinary human life on building and city scale. Further, they can be used to operate highly automated construction sites (this application of robotics we describe in detail in [26]). Tele-operated robot and construction system consisting of multiple subsystems can be used for automated construction on moon, mars or deep sea and underwater mining operations.

Copyright T. Hasegawa

Fig. 15. The Robot Town enables robots to execute various tasks for ordinary human life by creating an urban environment well structured in informative way for robots and service systems. T. Hasegawa, Kyushu University [4].

Copyright T. Bock

Fig. 16. Control Center of Shimizu's automated construction system for highly automatic erection of high-rise buildings, Japan, Shimizu Corporation.

Copyright T. Bock, Shimizu Space Project

138 The Future of Humanoid Robots – Research and Applications

Application in Construction/Building: Distributed robot systems enable robots to execute various tasks for ordinary human life on building and city scale. Further, they can be used to operate highly automated construction sites (this application of robotics we describe in detail in [26]). Tele-operated robot and construction system consisting of multiple subsystems can be used for automated construction on moon, mars or deep sea and

Fig. 15. The Robot Town enables robots to execute various tasks for ordinary human life by creating an urban environment well structured in informative way for robots and service

Fig. 16. Control Center of Shimizu's automated construction system for highly automatic

erection of high-rise buildings, Japan, Shimizu Corporation.

underwater mining operations.

Copyright T. Hasegawa

Copyright T. Bock

systems. T. Hasegawa, Kyushu University [4].

Fig. 17. Tele-operated robot and construction system consisting of multiple subsystems for automated construction on moon or mars, Japan, Shimizu Corporation.
