Lee, D and Han, K (2025) Autonomous navigation and positioning of a real-time and automated mobile robotic welding system. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 151(5): 04025033, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
In the US, the construction industry uses 40 million tons of steel annually, highlighting welding's crucial role in safety and quality. However, problems with attracting young welders and addressing quality issues leading to rework persist. These issues underscore the necessity of developing an automated welding robot that can provide consistent quality welding. This paper presents a novel concept for a mobile robotic welding system by outlining a comprehensive system pipeline. This robot has an integrated unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) to facilitate seamless navigation across construction sites. Specifically, the paper describes a self-developed system capable of executing tasks such as joint detection, initial point alignment, path planning, tracking, and adjustment. The paper further explores the integration process of the UGV, encompassing mapping, navigation, and collision avoidance strategies. The effectiveness and precision of the proposed approach are validated through successful automated robotic welding tests, reinforcing its potential in real-world applications.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Index terms: | effectiveness, quality issue, welder, construction industry, pipeline, integration, mapping, construction site, strategy, rework |
| Subjects: | quality assurance, spatial and geospatial analysis, operations management, practitioner, organizational analysis, infrastructure and transport systems, industry analysis, performance management, management, work location |
| Topics: | Engineering Principles, Project Management, Quality Management, Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Site Management, Organizational Design |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here