Said to be the first robot of its kind, ATRIS (Automated Tunnel Robotic Installation System) can autonomously select brackets, locate where they need to be mounted along a tunnel wall, and install them. Manually fitting these services in tunnels can be hazardous, labour-intensive and time-consuming, and it’s claimed that ATRIS will improve on-site health and safety by reducing the risks associated with manual labour at the tunnel work face.
The ATRIS consortium brings together expertise from across robotics, as well as mechanical and civil engineering. Partners include Tunnel Engineering Services (TES), i3D robotics (i3D), the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), Costain, and VVB Engineering.
“TES has over many years designed and manufactured Mechanised Tunnelling Machines and special purpose equipment for the construction industry,” said Alan Worsley, design and project manager at TES.
“Over this time, innovation has been at the forefront of our business, and the need for automation in traditionally manual M&E (mechanical and electrical) fit-out techniques has led us to develop ATRIS and make it commercially viable for the market. We believe the system can offer a safer, more cost-effective and sustainable solution for future infrastructure projects.”
ATRIS is designed to be deployed in tunnel construction for a variety of sectors including transport, water and energy. The consortium says it expects the system to increase productivity by 40 per cent and reduce installation costs for new M&E systems by 30 per cent.
The 22-month project was led by TES, which developed the initial concept. MTC spearheaded the design and manufacture of the robot's end effectors, i3D developed ATRIS’s visualisation software for precise navigation, whilst Costain and VVB provided industry knowledge and expertise in tunnelling and fit-out requirements.
“Developing an automated system to install infrastructure in tunnels has been a long-standing ambition for the construction sector,” said Dr Jon Storey, lead engineer at i3D.
“ATRIS has moved us significantly closer to that goal. The use of stereo vision with machine learning and robotics to place bolts precisely on a curved surface is an unprecedented achievement, with potential applications beyond the construction sector, such as nuclear decommissioning and defence.”
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