Potential Safety Challenges of Four-Legged Robots in Construction

In recent years, the construction industry has increasingly adopted the use of four-legged robots. These robots offer several advantages, including time-saving, improved accessibility to dangerous or inaccessible areas, and cost reduction. However, integrating these robots into the workplace introduces new hazards. Unfortunately, no research has been conducted to assess the risks associated with four-legged robots in construction. To have a comprehensive understanding of the four-legged robot integration in construction workplaces, it is crucial to consider their impact on health and safety. To this end, a study was conducted using virtual reality (VR) visualization techniques to simulate conceptual scenarios that required human interaction with four-legged robots at proximal and distant distances. Few construction safety experts observed these scenarios and ranked the potential safety challenges of four-legged robots. The study provides valuable insight into the potential safety challenges posed by four-legged robots and can assist in ensuring their safe integration on construction sites.