TELEOPERATION TO SAFE LIVES AND INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY

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TELE-OPERATION TO SAFE LIVES AND INCREASE
PRODUCTIVITY

• by
• Dr. Leonhard E. Bernold
• Dr. Steven J. Lorenc
• Center for Construction Technology Integration
  (CTI)
• NC State University

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Problems Motivation

• Construction Safety
• Cave-in Accidents cause Serious and Fatal
  Injuries
• OSHAs Efforts Focus on Training
• New Technological Approach to Problem

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Key Questions

• Does the new technology, in fact, not need any
  workers in the trenches?
• Does the new technology meet common quality
  standards?
• Is the new technology economically beneficial?

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Research Steps

• Upgrading Teleoperated Pipe Manipulator
• Site Observations
• Comparative Field Test
• Comparative Performance Evaluation

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Totally-Integrated-Construction
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No Hazards -- No OSHA
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Research to Prove
Direct Comparison (1999)
Productivity Data (1996-1999)
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Average Cycle Time (minutes)
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Cost Comparison (simple slope vs. trench box)

• Excavation/Backfill/Labor/WC Insurance Costs

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Comparative Pipe Laying Process
1. Traditional
Hoist cable
Laser target
2. Telerobotic
(a) moving a pipe
(b) lining up a pipe
(c) jointing a pipe
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!!!! IT WORKS !!!!
Operator is Handling 8 ft long Pipes
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Collected Projected Times
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Conclusions

• Teleoperated Pipe Laying Technology is,
• Technically Feasible
• Economically Viable
• Practically Acceptable

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Contributions

• A New Technological Approach to Safety Problem in
  Pipe Laying
• Development of Teleoperated Pipe Laying Prototype
• Implementation of Direct Comparative Field Test

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TELE-OPERATION TO SAVE LIVES AND INCREASE
PRODUCTIVITY

• by
• Dr. Leonhard E. Bernold
• Dr. Steven J. Lorenc
• Center for Construction Technology Integration
  (CTI)
• NC State University