Project Details
Projekt
Generic framework for simulating and executing robotized construction – General architecture and information backbone
Applicant
Professor Dr.-Ing. André Borrmann
Subject Area
Structural Engineering, Building Informatics and Construction Operation
Term
since 2024
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 517965147
Today, a comprehensive a suitable architecture and information backbone for simulating and executing robotized construction processes does not yet exist. Such a framework is, however, of utmost importance for enabling a virtual laboratory environment for experimenting and developing new robotized construction methods. The framework must provide fundamental services, such as digital representations of the facility under construction and the involved processes, and at the same time provide flexible interfaces to allow the integration of new types of robotic systems, sensors and construction methods. In the Research Unit, this subproject will accordingly play a central role. The overall objective of this subproject is to conceive a capable framework for simulating (and executing) robotized construction. The framework is required to be flexible and modular enabling easy extensibility and adaptability to allow its application for a large range of construction tasks and robotic systems. The framework comprises the overall architecture as well as protocols and interfaces enabling the interaction of its components. As an integral part of the framework, the information backbone provides the skeleton and fundamental infrastructure providing basic services for all further components of the framework. The architecture of the framework will implement the data, information, knowledge (DIK) pyramid providing a clear separation of the different layers of abstraction. The challenge lies in the definition of interfaces that abstract from the concrete implementation of the individual components. A generic classification of modular components will be identified to define requirements and suitable interfaces. Examples include components for (1) (simulated) sensing, (2) providing project information (BIM/FIM), (3) handling status information, (4) steering robotic activities, etc. The exact identification of the generic components is part of the research program. A general principle is that components can pull any information required for their task from the information backbone, while at the same time, they are requested to push any new status information to the information backbone. The exact temporal and spatial granularity is to be defined in the course of the research project. A core component of the framework is the representation of Fabrication Information Models that deeply integrate both, the product view and the production process view. To allow iterative elaboration and refinement, data structures for representing FIM on multiple, coherent abstraction levels will be developed. A challenge to be tackled lies in the variety of n:m relationships between building elements and fabrication processes: The digital representation of the to-be-built facility and the associated processes that will be developed in this subproject will form an integral component of the simulation platform developed across the entire Research Unit.
DFG Programme
Research Units
