Tilbury Douglas has introduced a humanoid robot to assist on a live construction project, becoming the first major UK contractor to deploy this technology in such an environment.
The robot, named Douglas, operates by independently moving around the site to document progress using 360° imagery and collate detailed reports.
These activities provide data for project monitoring as well as health and safety reporting, allowing human team members to concentrate on technical and operational duties.
The company reports that the deployment is anticipated to save approximately 40 hours each month in administrative data-collection tasks.
By reallocating time usually spent on routine documentation, Tilbury Douglas aims to achieve improvements in operational efficiency and regulatory compliance.
This deployment forms part of a wider digital transformation process at Tilbury Douglas, which seeks to integrate new technologies into construction processes.
The trial illustrates how automation can support and redefine existing roles within the construction workforce.
Tilbury Douglas technical director Mark Buckle said: “The construction industry continues to face a skills shortage and ongoing resource challenges.
“By utilising innovative technology such as this robot, we can automate key processes, assist our teams and enable our people to focus their expertise where it adds the greatest value.”
Tilbury Douglas delivers construction, infrastructure, engineering and fit-out projects within the UK.
The company undertakes design and build contracts across health, education, water, defence, justice and civic sectors, managing projects from conception to completion.
Earlier this month, Tilbury Douglas obtained a position on the Procure Partnerships North West Framework, securing places on three lots covering project values from £5m to over £30m.
The framework, managed by Procure Partnerships for Wirral Council, is available to public sector clients throughout the region. It will operate until 2030, with a total programme value of over £1bn.
