Construction firm Mace is trialling a Boston Dynamics robot dog it has named ‘Dave’ as part of the refurbishment of a 1960s cargo tunnel at Heathrow Airport.
The ‘Spot’ robot, developed by Boston Dynamics, features a Trimble X7 scanner to provide 3D laser scans of the site.
The tunnel helps to transport luggage and cargo across the airport. And Mace is leading on the refurbishment and updating of ageing mechanical and electrical services, bringing them into compliance with new regulations.
Mace staff at its Heathrow project chose to call their new colleague ‘Dave’ after holding a competition to choose a name.
Mace will use the data Dave collects alongside 3D models and augmented reality to track accuracy and progress on the construction work.
Access to hazardous locations
Mace said that employing Dave meant a reduced risk of trips, slips and accidents – particularly in hazardous, dark, or slippery locations.
If the trial is successful, the company will look to extend the technology across other major construction projects around the UK.
Mark Reynolds, group chairman and 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.
“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.
“The introduction of new technology is helping us collect important as-built data, whilst keeping our people safe in difficult locations, allowing them to focus on planning and delivering our projects more effectively.”
