Human-robot synergy in building construction: advances, challenges, and future horizons for construction 5.0

摘要

Abstract Construction, characterized by its inherent risks, demands innovative solutions to ensure process safety and efficiency. Human-robot collaboration (HRC) emerges as a promising alternative in this context, especially within the framework of Construction 5.0. However, existing research presents gaps in the comprehensive understanding of the advances and future potential of this synergy. This study addresses this gap through a systematic review of 181 articles published between 2013 and 2024, employing a mixed-methodology approach that combines quantitative and qualitative analysis. The results, obtained from an exhaustive bibliographic search and data visualization tools such as VOSViewer, allowed to systematically identify, categorize, and analyze emerging topics in HRC research in construction, generating a comprehensive and contextualized understanding of the state-of-the-art in the field. The four research areas (clusters) are: Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) in Construction Environments; Automation of construction tasks and processes; Planning and optimizing human-robot collaboration; and Social and economic impact of human-robot collaboration in construction. In addition, three future research directions are proposed to further explore HRC in the building construction sector: standardization and regulation of HRC in building construction; ethical considerations for HRC in Construction 5.0; and exploring the potential of neurofeedback-enhanced HRC in building construction. This research significantly expands existing knowledge on this topic, placing it at the forefront of the discipline. Furthermore, it offers practical guidelines for construction professionals to adopt Construction 5.0 principles and thus more effectively address the complex challenges of building construction.