| Some science fiction writers envisioned a world | | | | “like WALL-E,” the star of the Pixar animated |
| overrun with robots by now. Well, that’s hardly the | | | | film set in a waste-covered Earth of the future, the |
| case, unless you’re talking about specialized areas | | | | machines in Scotland were tackling manmade waste. |
| of industry, including robots that have helped with the | | | | “The real-life robots have been working in highly |
| safety and overall effectiveness in demolition projects. | | | | radioactive areas of Dounreay in Caithness in the |
| For more than three decades, robotic equipment | | | | Highlands,” he said. |
| increasingly has been used in demolition and | | | | A spokesperson for the project said: "Using remote |
| construction projects around the globe. There has | | | | tools such as the Brokk 180 can complete some |
| been no need for a man vs. machine contest of | | | | physical decommissioning tasks more quickly than |
| superiority. Nor has there been fear of a robot | | | | human workers, and without exposing them to the |
| rampage as in the science fiction film, “I, Robot.” | | | | hazards. The Brokk was used in smashing down walls. |
| Rather, people and machines work together as | | | | For a person to do that they would have to wear an |
| humans operate remote controlled machines in cutting, | | | | airline suit and a sledge hammer." |
| breaking, crushing and other demolition tasks. | | | | Benefits of using robotic demolition machines include: |
| While the popular image of demolition is the implosion | | | | Remote Controlled: Safer to operate |
| of buildings with explosives, this is hardly what happens | | | | Electric Power: No Fumes |
| in the vast majority of all demolition projects. The | | | | Compact Size: Accessibility to tight spaces |
| National Demolition Association reports implosions | | | | Light weight: Easy on floors |
| account for less than 1 percent of all demolition work. | | | | Multiple tools: Always jobs for machines |
| Demolition mostly involves the step-by-step destruction | | | | In June of 2009, Construction News Portal reported R. |
| of an entire building or partial structure in often | | | | Baker & Son All Industrial Services Inc., a specialized |
| hazardous conditions, whether the wrecking ball or | | | | demolition contractor, completed an eight-phase, highly |
| robotic demolition equipment is used. | | | | technical, demolition and environmental remediation |
| “Demolition practices today are not only quicker but | | | | project at Kings County Hospital located in Brooklyn, |
| safer and more cost-effective,” according to the | | | | N.Y. |
| National Demolition Association, which represents more | | | | “Demolition crews utilized various hand tools to |
| than 1,000 U.S. and Canadian companies that offer | | | | accomplish the demolition as well as specialized |
| standard demolition services as well as a full range of | | | | demolition equipment which included skid steers with |
| demolition-related services and products. | | | | demolition hammer and bucket attachments and Brokk |
| In 2008, BBC reporter Steven McKenzie explained | | | | 90 hydraulic breakers,” Construction News Portal |
| how a small army of robots was deployed in the | | | | said. |
| clean-up of a Scottish nuclear complex. He said | | | | |