Session: DFMLC-04-04: Design for Large and Distributed Systems and Life Cycle

Paper Number: 142425

142425 - Spiral Development Approach for Design and Validation of Large-Scale Extrusion-Based Autonomous Construction Systems 

Autonomous construction systems (ACSs) have become a very important area of research in several domains, particularly in expeditionary site preparation, extraterrestrial exploration and base construction, and disaster response. While these systems range from single vehicles to large systems with swarms of autonomous construction equipment, the major need for development is in the extrusion-based autonomous construction systems (EBACSs). These systems use large 3-D printers and supporting equipment to construct buildings and infrastructure in place. This article reviews a major previous study which developed a quasi-general system architecture for EBACSs and uses this as the starting place for further development in system realizability (manufacturing, assembly, and integration) and verification and validation efforts using the spiral development approach. Originally developed for software development projects, the spiral method has become more and more widely used in recent years for all kinds of risky and complex systems engineering work. Most importantly, decisions are made based on risk and the development/design process ends once the stakeholders decide the magnitude of system improvements in each cycle is too small to justify further cumulative cost. This work clearly shows the need and value of a general system architecture for EBACS and a path forward for their continued development and refinement. The conclusions and recommendations generated are relevant for the design and realization of a variety of different EBACSs configurations (gantry systems, robotic arms, delta robots, ground robot teams, and others) and will aid in the more effective realizability and fielding of these systems throughout their life cycle.

Presenting Author: Albert Patterson Texas A&M University

Presenting Author Biography: Albert E. Patterson, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology in the Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution, with affiliate appointments in the Departments of Mechanical and Multidisciplinary Engineering and Materials Science at Texas A&M University. He holds a PhD in Industrial Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as well as BS and MS degrees in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He is the director of the Manufacturability-Driven Design Lab at Texas A&M University, where he leads an interdisciplinary team to solve fundamental and applied problems in mechanical design, manufacturing science, and life cycle engineering. Prior to pursuing an academic career, Dr. Patterson worked for several years in the aerospace industry with the Boeing Company and the US Department of Defense through the GMD program under the Missile Defense Agency and the automated construction field with Autonomous and Unmanned Vehicle Systems Lab and the Army Corps of Engineers.

Authors:

Albert Patterson Texas A&M University
William R. Norris University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Ahmet Soylemezoglu US Army Corps of Engineers Construction Engineering Research Lab
Dustin Nottage US Army Corps of Engineers Construction Engineering Research Lab