Robot platform ensures safety and efficiency on construction sites

February 2025

Construction sites are among the most dangerous working environments in Europe. With the development of the CONCERT modular robot platform, the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) is setting a milestone in construction automation. The reconfigurable solution can take on heavy, dangerous and monotonous work, reducing accidents and increasing efficiency.

Work such as drilling, sanding, spraying insulation or lifting heavy materials harbours high risks. According to recent figures, in 2024 there were 30 fatalities on construction sites in Europe alone within four months.

With the support of the EU-funded CONCERT project, IIT has developed an innovative, modular robot platform. “Our aim was to create a flexible and adaptable solution that optimises construction processes, reduces the workload on people and improves safety,” explains Nikolaos Tsagarakis, project coordinator at IIT.

Robot as a support – not a replacement
Although the CONCERT robot can work autonomously, it was primarily designed as an assistance system for construction workers. While the machine takes over repetitive or dangerous tasks, skilled workers can concentrate on more complex activities. This not only increases work safety, but also efficiency on construction sites.

“Instead of using a separate robot for each task, we have developed a fully reconfigurable solution that can be customised directly on the construction site,” continues Tsagarakis.

Seamless integration into the digital construction site
The robot was successfully tested under real construction site conditions. It not only demonstrated its performance, but also its flexibility by being able to adapt to the spontaneous requirements of the construction team.

One major advantage is the link to digital building information models (BIM). This allows the robot to be controlled directly via a tablet without workers having to operate heavy power tools.

A breakthrough for construction robotics
CONCERT has ushered in a new era in digital construction site automation with the first reconfigurable multi-purpose construction robot platform.

The solution not only has the potential for broad industrial application, but also exceeds the usual technology maturity level in research projects. “The flexibility of the platform makes it usable for many other construction tasks,” says Tsagarakis. Future developments will expand the areas of application even further.

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