Engineers show humans and robots can build smarter, safer and faster

Monash University researchers have trialed a new system demonstrating how humans and robots can team up on the job to make construction faster, safer and less physically demanding.

Researchers from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering developed a smart planning system that not only determines which tasks robots should handle and which should remain with human workers, but also incorporates human fatigue into the planning process.

Under the supervision of Dr. Yihai Fang, the team simulated humans and robots assembling a timber floor frame for a three-bedroom unit, breaking the work into 71 tasks. Using real data from Monash’s UR10e robotic arm and MiR100 mobile robot, they measured task completion time, productivity, and physical fatigue.

Dr. Fang said the findings showed that carefully allocating tasks and sequencing workflows made construction more efficient while easing the physical demands on human workers. The research is published in the journal Automation in Construction.

“Collaborating with robots in construction is no longer a distant vision—it’s rapidly becoming a reality. Faced with ongoing challenges such as low productivity, labor shortages and high injury rates, the industry must embrace innovation by integrating automation and advanced robotic technologies,” Dr. Fang said.

Study first author, Dr. Will Wang, said the move toward robotics and automation could transform job sites.

“The simulations really show how robots could take the strain off workers—they can handle the heavy lifting and repetitive jobs, while humans focus on planning, problem-solving and making sure everything fits perfectly,” Dr. Wang said.

“It’s exciting to see how off-site prefabrication and smart on-site collaboration could actually make construction safer and faster for workers.”

Dr. Wang said the team’s technology tackles a key challenge in construction robotics.

“Figuring out which tasks should be done by humans and which by robots is a major hurdle. Our study lays the groundwork for a safer, more efficient, and human-focused approach to integrating robotics into structural assembly.”

Building on their human-robot collaboration research, the Monash team is now testing augmented reality (AR) guidance to demonstrate how humans and machines could work together seamlessly. Participants wear AR headsets that act like “smart eyes,” showing them the best route between storage and work zones and previewing the robots’ movements. This helps workers coordinate with robots, reduce mistakes, speed up tasks, and stay safer on site.