Spot the robot dog
The clever canine from Trimble and Boston Dynamics earns its keep with this tech-savvy Irish contractor
Working overtime so you don’t have to.
By now most of you have heard about Spot, the agile mobile robot created by Boston Dynamics.
Like many, I was curious as to what construction contractors are doing with this amazing bit of technology. Trimble, which has a strategic alliance with Boston Dynamics to bring robots to construction, put me in touch with the Mace Group, a tech-oriented construction company out of Dublin, Ireland, which recently wrapped up its first project using Spot and Trimble technology.
If you saw Spot do its dance at either of the last two ConExpo shows, you were probably thinking: Clever, but is it practical? The answer is yes if you like to stay ahead of schedule and hate cost-overruns and rework. Spot does what robots are supposed to do: take over the tedious and time-consuming chores to free up humans to do more value-added work.
Celtic name for an Irish dog
The name Spot is the product name given to it by Boston Dynamics, but in keeping with Irish mythology and legends, Mace decided to name their four-legged friend Setanta, after a mythical Irish warrior who became a king’s watchdog. So I’ll refer to Mace’s robot by its proper name, Setanta, from here on out.
According to Kieran Heffernan, associate director of construction at Mace, innovation is a key pillar of the company’s success. “We have an innovation fund and incentive programs that will reimburse employees for new ideas. So, getting approval for something as unique as a mobile, autonomous robot scanner was not a problem.”
Matching the dog to the task
The process of putting Setanta to work began with a lot of discussions starting in 2019. “We spent a year talking back and forth and figuring out how to make the application work within Mace’s workflows,” says DavidBurczyk, construction robotics lead for Trimble. Covid slowed progress so there was a lot of upfront planning before Trimble and Mace could physically get together as a team and start interacting with the robot.
When Trimble and Boston Dynamics co-developed the integration of Spot and the Trimble X7 3D laser scanner, that solution gave Heffernan the combination of technologies Mace needed to speed up the process. “That was the step change that we were looking for,” he says. “We wanted a process that compared the automated laser scan capture and analysis against the BIM model.”
Release the hound
Mace launched Setanta on a project that was underway in 2022. One of the fundamental processes at Mace is to do extensive laser scans to capture the as-built details of building projects.
“We used that kind of structured environment with enclosed spaces as the most complicated level of laser scanning that would need to be done,” says Heffernan. The scans are then compared to the BIM model to look for anomalies, assess quality control and build digital twins of the entire process.
“In their manual process, Mace might make one full scan of the job per week. Setanta can do three or more scans a week running autonomously.”
“We were doing it before as a manual process,” says Heffernan. “We had an engineering company in the field doing the laser scanning and then filtering it back to our BIM Team. And then there would be a manual check of the laser scan against the BIM model.”
Armed with the laser scanner on its back, Setanta roamed the building autonomously, stopping at multiple designated spots to scan the work. In their manual process, Mace might make one full scan of the job per week. Setanta can do three or more scans a week running autonomously.
When Setanta’s scans are run through Trimble software, the construction managers get a report that immediately shows them when something has been installed in the field and if it’s out of position or if anything needs to be done. The trial run showed that Setanta could complete an impressive 100 scans in a 10-hour period.
“That released our BIM teams to do the work they need to do from a modeling and coordination perspective,” says Heffernan. “And our construction managers benefit from the larger quantity of data that we gain with a robot and filtering that through to our team.”
With these accurate and regular measurements crews can detect and fix anomalies immediately rather than later in the construction process when they become difficult and expensive and wreak havoc with schedules.
One very smart dog
One of the more impressive feats Setanta performed while operating autonomously in its trial run with Mace, was figuring out what to do when its path was blocked by obstacles.
“In and around the internal structure of the data center are some complicated areas like network rooms, especially at the later portions of the project,” says Heffernan. “You have a lot of people in these congested spaces and a lot of equipment cabinetry in place. We intentionally put barriers up to block its route and find out what would happen.”
When faced with these unexpected barriers, Setanta reversed course and then positioned itself on the opposite side of a set of cabinets to get where it needed to be to undertake its final scan, says Heffernan. “That was one of the scenarios where I thought we are onto something here. Not only is it doing pre-directed routes, it also has the brains to figure out how to work around obstacles efficiently and effectively.”
The next job
Following Setanta’s successful trial run in 2022, Mace plans to use its laser scanning canine on a bigger job in 2023 that will also include scanning topography for the earthmoving and site work. “It will be tied in with our project delivery and the manner in which we bid and scope the project,” says Heffernan.
“The way we envision the project happening is that Setanta will start in the evening,” says Heffernan. “Our engineering team will pre-record tracked missions in the field depending on what we want to have scanned and wherever we need data. Before going home our engineer will set up Setanta in his dog kennel and then press the go button.”
From there Setanta will emerge from his on-site kennel (which is a secure shelter, a charging station and a place to download scans), walk his route, do the scans, and return to the kennel. “In the morning we will have fully scanned data in the data center that can be immediately shared with our BIM team,” says Heffernan. “That’s the day-to-day operation.”
On its next job Sentanta will be doing topographical scans prior to the dirt work.
Teaching the new dog new tricks
Mace foresees additional technology extensions and uses for its robot including giving it QR codes to read in the field and merging data with Trimble’s augmented reality XR10 helmet.
“Our initial focus for Spot was construction data collection and reality capture with laser scanners, as well as inspections and observations of the construction site,” says Trimble’s Burczyk. We are taking a very disciplined approach to bringing the technology out with the first step being construction data collection.”
But it doesn’t stop there. Trimble also has partnerships with Hilti, as well as Hewlett-Packard and other companies to explore robotic solutions to all kinds of applications in construction. “We look for ways that we can do partnerships that can offer a connected construction approach on the job site,” says Burczyk.
Lovable pup
Setanta has been a big hit at Mace, driving lots of social media posts and photographs, says Heffernan. “It’s a really interesting piece of technology. We have used it in presentations to clients and it’s nice to showcase what we bring to the table. So, it’s a fun time.”
“It’s becoming more apparent these days you have to ramp up your technology and use the right kinds of technology in the right sectors.”
And the use of this high-IQ mobile scanning solution fits right in with Mace’s tech philosophy. “The level of technology we use compared to other companies I’ve worked with is worlds apart,” says Heffernan. “It’s becoming more apparent these days you have to ramp up your technology and use the right kinds of technology in the right sectors.”
Training the humans
A two-day training period is sufficient for crew members to learn how to use the Trimble X7 laser scanner, says Burczyk. The first day orients users to what the technology is and how it relates to what you need to scan with the robot. The second day goes over “flight time” and the real-world environment.
As far as the combining the robot with the scanner, Trimble worked with Mace over a three-month period to make sure their implementation was successful in the applications they needed for their jobs. “We worked with them to establish their goals for each month of the trial, until it became clear that everyone operating the robot knew how it worked and it became part of their day-to-day operations,” says Burczyk. “From there, the Mace team was able to spread the knowledge to other team members within their organization,” he says.
On a day-to-day level, the typical users of the reality capture are going to be your virtual design and construction teams, people who are working with the 3D models, says Burczyk. “They are the ones who capture the information, do the comparisons, and work with the virtual prototype of the job.”
Great article