Robotic approach to overcome traditional demolition and progress towards controlled deconstruction

Publikation: Beitrag in Fachzeitschrift › Forschungsartikel › Beigetragen › Begutachtung

Beitragende

  • Emre Ergin - , Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, TU Dresden and RWTH Aachen Cluster of Excellence - Climate and Resource Neutral Civil Engineering (CARE) (Autor:in)
  • Marit Zöcklein - , Construction Robotics GmbH, TU Dresden and RWTH Aachen Cluster of Excellence - Climate and Resource Neutral Civil Engineering (CARE) (Autor:in)
  • Sigrid Brell-Cokcan - , Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, TU Dresden and RWTH Aachen Cluster of Excellence - Climate and Resource Neutral Civil Engineering (CARE) (Autor:in)

Abstract

The construction sector faces increasing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate its substantial contribution to global waste streams, with demolition alone generating a major share within the EU. Controlled deconstruction in sense of recovering components non-destructively for reuse offers a viable alternative to conventional demolition but remains labor-intensive and potentially hazardous. This paper investigates how on-site robotics can enable automated, safe, and material-preserving deconstruction through a feedback loop in a design-to-process flow. Building on robot-oriented de-/construction research, we develop and implement a robotic unbolting workflow tailored to reclaim beams from a modular steel demonstrator. The system integrates multi-sensor feedback to localize, align with, and remove standardized bolts under realistic construction site conditions. Iterative field trials demonstrate that the robot can repeatedly execute non-destructive unbolting without manual intervention, reliably recovering connection members while keeping workers at a safe distance. The results highlight the feasibility of robotic, controlled deconstruction and point toward future integration of sensing-informed autonomy within circular construction ecosystems.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Aufsatznummer22
FachzeitschriftConstruction Robotics
Jahrgang10
Ausgabenummer2
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 6 Juli 2026
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

RIS Ergin2026