Pictobot: Autonomous Painter Robot

PictoBot is described as a solution to combine the benefits of construction automation and human innovation ingenuity. At high elevations, the PictoBot works safely close to the workforce by executing the repetitive painting operation. PictoBot is equipped with a sensor driven painting system via on site scanning and spray gun motion planning that adapts to the uncertainties of the building environment unlike traditional paint robots that use CAD model based planning methodologies. The robot demonstrate the benefits of collaboration in leveraging the finishing quality through accurate paint dispersion management. It allows the current workforce to accomplish more of the painting progress.

When PictoBot and human beings work together, they can meet real-world challenges like improving sustainability, productivity, and quality of the interior finishing services as well as fostering a robotics industry and an ecosystem that will help transform construction into a modern business. As a construction service, PictoBot will reduce the need for skilled workers to perform repetitive painting tasks, and it will relieve human workers from tiresome jobs that requires climbing, bending, kneeling, and reaching. PictoBot as well decreases human exposure to dangerous paint chemicals and eliminates the risk of falling from height when painting high walls and ceilings.

Sustainability in urban development is also a focus in this study. In order to restrict the emissions of volatile organic compounds, new air pollution and environmental rules will significantly impact the demand for efficient painting services. PictoBot will assist in sustainable urban development and livability with new ecologically friendly coating solutions such as nanostructured, antimicrobial, self-cleaning, sound dampening, anticorrosive, and light-emitting coatings.

Written by: Eric Waringga and Abigail Andrea P. D

Reference:

Asadi, E., Chen, I., & Li, B. (2017). Pictobot: A Cooperative Painting Robot for Interior Finishing of Industrial Developments. IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine, 25(2), 82-94. doi: 10.1109/MRA.2018.2816972