Material transportation on construction sites, particularly for the assembly of slide‑in Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) units, is a critical yet challenging task. It involves high safety risks associated with heavy-load handling, limited manoeuvrability in complex and uneven terrain, low efficiency in confined site environments, and a growing shortage of skilled labour. These issues increase costs, compromise safety, and constrain productivity and sustainable development in Hong Kong’s construction industry.
To address these challenges, an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) has been developed to provide stable and reliable heavy-load transportation. With terrain-adaptive capabilities and intelligent localization and path‑planning algorithms, the AMR can operate efficiently in narrow spaces and on uneven ground, optimizing routes in real time within dynamic construction environments. Supporting both autonomous and semi‑autonomous modes, the system reduces reliance on manual labour, minimizes human exposure to high‑risk tasks, and significantly improves operational efficiency, safety, and reliability.
The AMR has been successfully deployed in the construction of the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong and Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute, the Kong Nga Po Police Training Facilities, Joint Cavern Development at Anderson Road Quarry Site, and Shenzhen People's Hospital Bao'an Branch. Compared with traditional equipment, the AMR can reduce manpower requirements by approximately 33%, shorten installation time by 30–60%, and substantially enhance operational safety.
