Design of Prefabricated Exterior Wall Panels for Robotic Building Retrofit

Retrofitting aging commercial buildings from the exterior using wall panels can increase their sustainability and energy efficiency. The partner, RoBIM Technologies Inc., is developing an end-to-end automated solution by using robotic technologies and introducing more energy efficiency materials into the panel design. The combination of robotic prefabrication and sustainability of engineered wood products (EWPs) are well matched with the goals of greening Alberta’s construction industry and reducing carbon emissions from buildings. The purpose of this research is to develop a new EWP-based exterior wall panel system for commercial building retrofits from perspectives of structural integrity, thermal efficiency, robotic constructability. The outcome of this research will provide Alberta’s building industry with an example of robot-constructable panel system will facilitate future adoptions of the integration of EWPs and robotic technologies in building retrofits.

Faculty Supervisor:

Yuxiang Chen;Ying-Hei Chui

Student:

Partner:

RoBIM Technologies

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Construction and infrastructure

University:

University of Alberta

Program: