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 trialed in partnership with construction company Mace.
Dave’s role will be to provide 3D laser scans of the ongoing refurbishment of a 1960’s cargo tunnel at Heathrow Airport.
Mark Reynolds, chief executive of Mace said: ‘The introduction of our new robot colleague, Dave, at Heathrow is a fantastic demonstration of the future of our industry.
‘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.’
Mace’s Heathrow project chose to call their new colleague Dave after holding a competition to choose a name.
The companies 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.
The data is then 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.
Emma Gilthorpe, Chief Operating Officer at Heathrow, said: ‘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.’
Mr Reynolds added: ‘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.’
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.
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