Robotic Manipulator for Precast Wall Panel Installation

Functional Requirements

• Capable of handling precast wall panels up to 3.6m in height and weighing up to ~300kg
• Achieve safe and repeatable placement precision
• Minimise manual effort during lifting, alignment, and installation
• Operable by workers without specialised skills
• Integrate seamlessly with current site procedures, including panel distribution, wall layout mark-outs, and crane logistics
• Transportable between floors via common material hoist systems
• Heavy-duty wheels and ability to manoeuvre drops in floor levels between corridors, wet areas, etc.
• Compatible with common panel dimensions (600mm wide) and standard lifting brackets used by panel suppliers
• Modular and compact to manoeuvre within tight residential unit spaces and corridors
  

Technical Requirements

Core Requirements:

• Easy to service and maintain onsite with minimal downtime
• Operable under typical Singapore jobsite conditions, including heat, dust, and rain
• Long battery life (if battery powered) to support extended use during shift hours
• Compliant with Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Building and Construction Authority (BCA) safety regulations

Additional Preferences:

• Remote-controlled or semi-autonomous operation preferred, allowing human oversight when needed
• Vision or edge-sensing systems to assist in panel alignment and reduce placement errors
• Integration with BIM or digital layout models for precise placement
• Compatible with manual erection methods, allowing hybrid operation modes
• The solution may include modular or integrated systems, such as:
  
  • Crane-mounted robotic arm with precision sensors and suction or clamp-based grippers or manipulator devices 
  • Automated lifting clamp with intelligent tilt/swing adjustment and edge sensors
  • AGV/AMR platform to move panels on flat surfaces, suitable for PPVC/DfMA environments
  • AI and camera system to guide robotic arms based on digital layout models

Note: Given variability in building tolerances and alignment needs, human oversight in final positioning is acceptable.

‍Expected Outcomes

• Reduction of manpower requirement by 25 to 50% for installation workflows
• Improvement of installation speed by at least 30% 
• More consistent panel installations and higher work quality through precision placement and reduced rework
• Reduction in lifting-related injuries and fatigue risks
• Lower reliance on skilled labour for repetitive, high-risk tasks
• Scalability for adoption in residential, commercial and industrial developments

Deployment Environment and Constraints

The proposed solution is primarily intended for condominium projects, where panel sizes are larger and heavier than for Housing and Development Board (HDB) projects, and where material hoists or tower cranes are commonly available. These environments offer greater potential for automation to reduce manual labour and improve installation speed.

Note: In contrast, public housing projects often involve shorter panels and rely on manual handling without material hoisting platforms, and distribution of panels using a common material hoist. While some ergonomic or safety benefits may still apply, full automation is less impactful in these settings, as human involvement remains necessary for final positioning and locking.

The system will operate under typical jobsite conditions in Singapore, including tight unit layouts, variable floor plans, and exposure to dust, rain, and heat. It should integrate smoothly into existing workflows involving both manual and crane-assisted panel logistics.

The POC can begin in JOE Green’s controlled precast yard in Johor in Malaysia, before being deployed or tested on an active project site in Singapore. The company is open to co-developing the solution from early prototype to full-scale commercial deployment.

JOE Green will provide:

• Full-scale precast yard and live project site access
• Actual wall panels for validation and trials
• Performance benchmarks, site data, and technical feedback
• Support from in-house engineers, site managers, and safety officers
• Feedback loop from lifting crew to optimise ergonomics and workflows

‍Commercialisation and Scaling

JOE Green will allocate internal resources, project sites, and technical oversight to implement and evaluate the solution. The company will support wider adoption through worker training and process adaptation, with the intent of offering the solution to regional contractors and precast manufacturers.

With applicability across public and private residential, industrial, and prefabricated building projects, the system has significant market potential. The company envisions future business models involving licensing, OEM partnerships, or integration with existing precast automation systems.