Co-Robotics and Construction: OSCR 1-4 Prototypes (2015 R+D Awards Citation)

The Rust Belt Robotics Group at the University at Buffalo, SUNY, is developing humanoid robots to assist—but not replace—construction crews. The researchers emphasize that this research is in co-robotics—meaning that the machines work alongside people and not in isolation. Rust Belt Robotics has built generations of small-scale, but increasingly complex, android prototypes coined On-Site Construction Robots (OSCR, pronounced “Oscar”).

Project: Co-Robotics and Construction: OSCR 1-4 Prototypes
Design Firm: Rust Belt Robotics Group, University at Buffalo, State University of New York (SUNY)
OSCR-1 and OSCR-2 Teams: Ball State University
OSCR-3 Team: University at Buffalo, SUNY
OSCR-4 Team: University at Buffalo, SUNY

(2015 R+D Awards recipient)

R+D Awards
ARCHITECT magazine’s annual R+D Awards program honors the research and technologies that have advanced the profession at every scale—from design strategies and building products to fabrication methods, installations, software, and materials.