Legged Robots for Construction Management: Applications and Challenges

Abstract

In recent years, legged robots capable of traversing complex terrain with height differences have gained widespread attention in construction management. Despite their growing popularity, research on the applications of legged robots in the construction management industry is still in its early stages, and no comprehensive review has yet summarized the applications and challenges of legged robots in this sector. This study fills this gap by methodically categorizing legged robots and delineating their applications in construction, existing challenges, and prospective future directions. This paper first introduces the various types of mobile and legged robots and then categorizes the applications of legged robots in the construction management industry into three principal areas: construction inspection, progress monitoring, and model reconstruction. Additionally, this research presents five key recommendations addressing both the challenges and future directions for enhancing robot functionality in construction settings. These recommendations are (1) improving walking ability in complex environments, (2) finding inspiration from animals, (3) enhancing navigation and scan planning capabilities, (4) strengthening human–robot collaboration, and (5) expanding application scenarios. This study’s insights can significantly benefit academia and industry by promoting further development and effective utilization of legged robots in the construction management industry.