This robot dog at Heathrow Airport is set to increase safety by reducing trips, slips and accidents in construction work. — Mace/Heathrow Airport/PA Media/dpa
LONDON: Heathrow Airport has employed a robotic dog called Dave in a bid to improve efficiency and safety on major construction projects.
Dave is a robot developed by Boston Dynamics, an American engineering and robotic company, and is being trialled in partnership with Mace, a global consultancy and construction company, with Dave providing 3D laser scans of the ongoing refurbishment of a 1960’s cargo tunnel at Heathrow Airport.
With four mechanical limbs and additional parts for more advanced tasks, the dog is increasingly being used in construction, security and mining projects, where its ability to open doors, drag objects and inspect dangerous areas is proving useful.
Boston Dynamics said earlier this year that it has sold about “several hundred” such robot dogs for a base price starting at around US$100,000 (RM439,550).
The companies at Heathrow Airport say their robot dog allows the project team to increase safety by reducing trips, slips and accidents – particularly in hazardous, dark, or slippery locations – while quickly retrieving data from the building site.
“Robots will never replace people in construction – but this pilot shows how they have the potential to drive greater efficiency, capture records digitally and improve safety and delivery,” Mark Reynolds, group chairman and chief executive of Mace said.
Mace’s Heathrow project chose to call their new colleague Dave after holding a competition to choose a name.
Data from building sites will also be used alongside 3D models and augmented reality to track accuracy and progress on the renovation work to bring the tunnel – which is used to transport luggage and cargo across the airport – into compliance with new regulations.
“Heathrow’s vision is to give passengers the best airport experience in the world and, in order to do that, we need great people, and we also need innovation. Dave the Dog has been a fantastic innovation enabling us to perform the tasks that we need to do – using robotics and automation,” Emma Gilthorpe, chief operating officer at Heathrow, said.
“Passengers at Heathrow may never notice the difference – but, hopefully, they’ll be pleased to know Dave is working round the clock to make sure the airport runs as smoothly as possible in the future,” Reynolds added.
Mace is one of the first construction firms to adopt this technology in the UK and, if the trial is deemed to be a success, the company will look to extend the technology across other major construction projects around the UK. – PA Media/dpa
