While still new in the construction industries, robots are typically designed to perform a specific task in a highly precise and efficient way, like the rebar tying robot, Tybot or the brick-laying robot Hadrian X. More recently, though, robots are being imagined as platforms for 3rd party companies to develop hardware and accessories to attach to the base robot, like the Boston Dynamics robotic dog, Spot. I recently came across a new robot, called Baubot, which hopes to one day perform tasks using every tool on a typical jobsite.
Baubot, an Austrian-based robot - not to be confused with another Austian-based robot, Terminator – developed by Printstones with the goal of learning every trade on the jobsite. Its current functional capabilities include:
3D Concrete Printing
Material Handling by gripping or suction
Welding
Drilling and Routing
Driving Fasteners
Sanding
Painting
Layout
Plasma Cutting
Formwork Milling
Bricklaying
The Baubot is equipped with all-terrain tracks, which even allow it to climb stairs. The flexible robotic arm gives the machine the ability to attach different accessories for the variety of applications listed above.
It has the capacity to haul over 100 pounds (500kg) on it’s back and sports a battery life of 8 hours on a full battery charge.
It appears that the Baubot is still in the testing stage, but those interested can reach out to the company on their website for more information. You can also watch the video below, which highlights many of the robot’s capabilities.
One of the toughest things to deal with on any project can be the relationships between owner and general contractor or the general contractor and subcontractor. In the worst case scenarios, tensions between those relationships can sometimes lead to one of those parties packing up their tools and walking off the job before it’s complete. But that action may make the situation a little hairier than you might expect, if you don’t do it the right way.
In a recent post from The Lien Zone, a great source for construction law related advice, Patrick Barthet offers some steps to take before calling it quits. You might think it’s as easy as making the GC or Owner just find a replacement to finish your work, but the contract you signed may get you into some legal or financial trouble if you’re not careful.
The article, titled “Think Twice Before Walking Off a Job,” offers four steps to take before taking drastic steps. First and foremost, you need to read and understand what the termination requirements are in your contract and provide the necessary notice. Second, you need to make sure that you have been paid the correct amount, whether itss too little or too much.
Even though we’re over a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus is still threatening the health of construction’s workers and taking a toll on project timelines. It’s likely that your company has already determined the best course of action to help mitigate the risk of spreading the virus on your jobsites, but it’s never too late to learn from another contractor.
Balfour Beatty, one of the world’s largest construction companies, has recently uploaded their COVID-19 Safety Orientation Video on YouTube in both English and Spanish. The 7 minute video explains the company’s policies and practices to help reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
First, each employee much undergo a daily symptom check, have their temperature taken, and disclose whether or not they have come into contact with anyone that has or believes they have COVID-19. The company also posts visual reminders throughout the jobsite as reminders for the guidelines.
The video also covers social distancing, facial covering requirements, and break room requirements. To help aide in the social distancing requirement, Balfour Beatty expects small teams of 5 or less to be formed, which helps to reduce a widespread exposure if one team member happens to contract the virus.
Hand washing and sanitization stations are set up around their jobsites and the company suggests for their employees to wash or disinfect their hands several time throughout the day. Additionally, Balfour also suggests sanitizing equipment and tools on a regular basis.
You can watch both the English and Spanish version of Balfour Beatty’s COVID-19 Safety Orientation below:
Each year, the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) puts out their annual Bridge Report, which highlights the general state of America’s bridges. Their recently released 2021 report shows a slight decrease in the amount of structurally deficient bridges versus their report in 2020.
There are currently 618,000 bridges in the US, according to the ARTBA report, and roughly 45,000 of them have been rated as “structurally deficient,” which is a 1,140 bridge decrease versus last year’s report. The term signifies that there are “one or more structural defects that require attention.”
At the current rate, the ARTBA says that repairing every structurally deficient bridge in the US would take 40 years. On a positive note, this is the 5th straight year that the percentage of structurally deficient bridges has dropped.
Including the 45+ bridges listed as structurally deficient, there are over 220,000 bridges that have been identified as needing repaired, amounting to roughly 36% of the total fleet, a 1% reduction versus last year.
The states with the most bridges in poor condition are:
1. Iowa – 4,571 (ranked #1 last year)
2. Pennsylvania – 3,353 (ranked #2 last year)
3. Illinois – 2,374 (ranked #3 last year)
4. Oklahoma – 2,326 (ranked #4 last year)
5. Missouri – 2,190 (ranked #5 last year)
The states with the highest percentage of structurally deficient bridges are:
Those that follow tool news may have heard about a new Makita tool platform that launched in several other countries a few months ago and have been waiting for the news of it finally being released in the United States. Well, the wait is over, as the teal tool brand has finally announced the release of their 40V and 80V XGT system in the US.
The initial 50+ tools on the XGT system will be available for purchase this month and more releases will become available in future quarters. Much like the 18V, 36V LXT lineup for Makita, the XGT system will pair two 40V batteries together to achieve 80V.
Makita believes that this new system is unique because it allows them to achieve higher performance with their tools, while also creating a battery platform that is compact enough to use on smaller power tools, like impacts and drills.
“For the highest-demand applications and a truly cordless job site, Makita has taken cordless performance beyond limits with the creation of XGT,” explains Mario Lopez, director of product management, Makita U.S.A. “We’re providing more power without forcing users to buy big, heavy, slow-charging batteries for use on a limited number of tools. XGT is launching with fifty products – an unheard-of amount at launch, and more will be coming soon.”
It's important to note that the XGT system is not negating the LXT system, as Makita will continue to development the LXT lineup, which currently offers over 275 products. The XGT system is also not backwards compatible with the LXT lineup, so you won’t be able to use the 40V batteries on any of your existing 18V tools.
The XGT Batteries
Makita states that their new 40V XGT batteries were designed to absorb impact and resist water and dust, although they have not published any sort of IP rating. The batteries also contain microchips to “speak” to the tools and prevent overheating, overloading, and over discharging.
In April, a 2.5ahand a 4.0ah battery will be made available, followed by a 5.0ah battery in the near future. It will be interesting to see how far Makita takes this battery platform, because one of the knocks on its existing LXT platform is that they never released a battery larger than 6.0ah, whereas other brands like Milwaukee and DeWalt offer 12.0ah for longer runtime. Makita’s position has long been that those batteries are too bulky and heavy.
The XGT Tools
As mentioned above, Makita’s goal with XGT is to provide one battery that is optimized for both small, handheld power tools, and provide enough power for larger tools.
Rotary and Demolition Hammers
This category will hold the first two 80V max tools in the lineup, but both will be released after the initial launch. The two 80V options include a Brushless 2" AVT® Rotary Hammer Kit, SDS-MAX and a Brushless 29 lb. AVT® Demolition Hammer Kit, SDS-MAX.
The initial release includes a Brushless 1-1/8" AVT® Rotary Hammer Kit, SDS-PLUS, Brushless 1-1/8" AVT® Rotary Hammer Kit, with Interchangeable Chuck SDS-PLUS, a Brushless 1-9/16" AVT® Rotary Hammer Kit SDS-MAX, and a Brushless 15 lb. AVT® Demolition Hammer Kit SDS-MAX, all 40V max.
The saw category is highlighted by a 10-1/4” 40V Max Rear Handle Saw, which has a maximum cut depth of 3-3/4” at 90 degrees. The initial lineup will also include a 40V max 7-1/4” rear handle saw, a 40V max 7-1/4” top handle circular saw, and a 40V max reciprocating saw. In the near future, Makita will also release a 40V max 8-1/2” sliding compound miter saw.
Makita 40V max XGT® Brushless 10-1/4" Rear Handle Saw Kit (GSR02), courtesy of Makita
Grinders
Makita will also be releasing a slew of 40V max grinders, including four different 4-1/2” /5” angle grinders, with offerings in both AWS and non-AWS and a paddle switch option on each set. AWS is Makita’s Bluetooth technology, which communicates between the tool and connected dust extractor to automatically turn the vacuum on and off based on the use of the tool.
There will also be a 7”/9” paddle switch angle grinder with AWS available in the initial launch, followed by two 6” angle grinders in the near future.
Makita 40V max XGT® Brushless 4-1/2" / 5" Angle Grinder Kit (GAG04), with Electric Brake, courtesy of Makita
Drills and Impacts
What would Makita news be without another dozen impact releases? In addition to several impact wrench offerings, there will also be a new 40Vmax 4-Speed Impact Driver on the new lineup.
The impact wrench options include a ¾” Sq. Drive Impact Wrench Kit w/ Friction Ring Anvil, a 1/2" Sq. Drive Impact Wrench Kit w/ Friction Ring Anvil, and a 1/2" Sq. Drive Impact Wrench Kit w/ Detent Anvil. Two mid-torque half inch impact wrenches will also be released in the near future.
Four drills will be included in the first release, including a ½” Drill-Driver, a ½” Hammer Drill-Driver, a ½” Compact Brushless Drill-Driver, and a ½” Compact Brushless Hammer Drill-Driver.
Makita 40V max XGT® Brushless 4-Speed Impact Driver Kit (GDT01), courtesy of Makita
Miscellaneous Tools
The 40V XGT lineup also features a Brushless 9-1/4" Fan, an LED Lantern/Flashlight, a pivoting head LED flashlight, and two different radios: one with Bluetooth, and one without. I don’t have any information on it yet, but it also appears that there will be several OPE options on the XGT lineup, as well, including a string trimmer and blower.
Tell Us Your Thoughts!
What do you think of this new Makita platform? What tools do you hope they release on the XGT lineup in the future?
