Trimble and Boston Dynamics announced a strategic alliance to integrate a variety of construction data collection technologies with Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot platform.
Spot, equipped with Trimble GNSS equipment for survey and construction. Courtesy Trimble.
The jointly-developed solution will combine the Spot robot’s autonomous mobility with Trimble’s data collection sensors and field control software to enable automation of repetitive tasks such as site scans, surveying and progress monitoring, while taking advantage of the robot’s unique capabilities to navigate dynamic and potentially unsafe environments.
This turnkey solution will streamline operation of the robot and provide quality control for missions, enabling construction project managers to get a clear picture of jobsite progress on an ongoing basis. Trimble technologies integrated with the robot enable scalable data acquisition while Trimble’s construction collaboration platforms provide a continuous flow of information between field and office.
Mortenson, a U.S. builder, developer and engineering services provider headquartered in Minneapolis, is one of the first customers to use this technology combination. In the spirit of eliminating jobsite waste and increasing efficiency, the team has been piloting Spot robots with Trimble’s SPS986 GNSS solutions to autonomously navigate challenging exterior construction environments such as solar farms to continuously document existing site conditions. An automated and repeatable approach to field data capture can provide Mortenson with real-time awareness of project status, helping to accelerate project delivery. Through Trimble’s Early Experience Program, contractors such as Mortenson have advanced access to this technology for the purposes of evaluating its suitability in actual construction projects.
“Robots will play a crucial role in automated construction workflows and can augment the human workforce by handling dirty, dull and dangerous tasks,” said Martin Holmgren, general manager, Building Field Solutions at Trimble. “Our experience with early adopters like Mortenson gave us visibility into the potential of an integrated solution that marries a robot with construction-specific sensors and workflows.”
“We believe the combination of Trimble’s experience and industry leadership in construction technologies and Boston Dynamics’ Spot can transform the way the industry operates,” said Michael Perry, vice president of business development at Boston Dynamics. “The integrated solution will enable any jobsite leader to deploy Spot and Trimble technologies to get an accurate view of construction progress through real-time data collection. With a more comprehensive view of site activity, project managers can take proactive measures to ensure on-time, on-budget and safer project delivery.”
For more information on Spot, Boston Dynamic’s robot, visit: https://insideunmannedsystems.com/rocos-and-boston-dynamics-partner-to-enhance-spot-a-mobile-robot/
