Demolition Robots
Demolition Robots Disrupt a Labor-Intensive Industry
Demolition robots are used in the construction industry to demolish buildings at the end of their lifecycle. These mobile robots are a relatively new form of professional service robot and leverage a variety of end-of-arm tools such as breakers, crushers, drills or buckets to break through building materials. Most demolition robots resemble small excavators, except without the cab, and are designed to pack a strong punch in a small space that will fit through doorways and stairways.
Currently, demolition robots occupy 90% of the total market for construction robots. They’re one of the first commercially viable service robots to tackle applications in a historically labor-intensive industry. The overall construction robots market is expected to be worth $321 million by 2022, with a global compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7% between 2016 and 20221.
Automating demolition is all about safety and efficiency, both of which drive major cost savings for construction and demolition companies. Demolition is an inherently dangerous job. Robotic automation puts human workers out of harm’s way and lets them complete more productive tasks, a major benefit of robots outlined by the Father of Robotics Joseph Engelberger. Demolition robots don’t need breaks either and can work day and night to complete a demolition job faster than ever before. While demolition robots have a high initial cost, which is to be expected for a brand new technology, they are cost-effective in the long-term, delivering ROI in time and labor savings.
Demolition robots offer much needed safety, efficiency and cost-savings in a labor-intensive industry. With strong growth potential, demolition robots are set to disrupt the construction and demolition industry by leading a wave of automation.