Human-robot collaboration for modular construction manufacturing: Review of academic research

By shifting most of the site work to factories, manufacturing becomes a critical phase in modular construction. Human-robot collaboration (HRC) is a promising approach to enhancing modular construction manufacturing (MCM) productivity while maintaining necessary flexibility. However, little attention has been paid to understanding, in a holistic manner, the past, present, and future of HRC in MCM. To fill in this gap, this study presents a review of 78 relevant publications on HRC in MCM, focusing on tasks, human roles, and interaction levels. HRC solutions are found applicable to various MCM tasks whereas existing research primarily focuses on timber component production. It also reveals that humans can play diverse collaborative roles and interact with robots at varying levels. Potential opportunities, challenges, and future directions are further discussed. The review deepens the understanding of HRC in MCM and inspires future research.