Critical Review of Load Handover in Construction Cranes: Fid-Bau Portal

Critical Review of Load Handover in Construction Cranes

Yang, Tianjie / Arashpour, Mehrdad / Abdi, Elahe

This paper presents a comprehensive review of current technologies in mechanical design, actuation, sensing, and modeling and control of three commonly used construction cranes: the tower crane, mobile crane, and spider crane. The objective is to explore the feasibility of employing a second crane to replace human workers in the task of receiving heavy loads lifted to certain heights during the construction of high-rise buildings and if any system modifications are necessary to successfully achieve this goal. The current practice of relying on human workers for load reception poses safety risks due to inadequate communication with the crane operator and exposure to the building’s edge. By investigating crane–crane (CC) collaboration as a potential alternative, this study aims to enhance safety and work efficiency by eliminating direct interactions between human workers and cranes. Drawing on the lessons learned from Robot-to-Robot (R2R) handover, the paper establishes a parallel between R2R handover and CC collaboration, highlighting valuable insights that can be applied to the construction context. While considerable research has been conducted on crane modeling, control, and actuation, this paper underscores the need for further advancements in crane model accuracy, stability control, and customization of the crane end effector to fully unlock the potential of CC collaboration. By addressing these areas, the envisioned goal of replacing human workers with a second crane can be successfully achieved, thereby reducing fatality risks and increasing overall work efficiency in high-rise construction projects. This review emphasizes the significance of continued research efforts to refine and optimize crane technologies, ensuring their seamless integration into collaborative systems. The findings presented here lay the foundation for future investigations and encourage the industry to prioritize the development of safer and more efficient construction practices through the adoption of CC collaboration.