March 2026

Conference Paper

Dynamic Analysis of a Six-Cable Parallel Robot for Automated Panelized Building Retrofits

By:
Liu, Yifang ; Hayes, Nolan W; Hun, Diana E; Maldonado Puente, Bryan P
Page Number:
9-16
Book Title:
2025 Proceedings of the 42nd ISARC, Montreal, Canada
Publication Date:
March 12, 2026
Publisher Location:
IAARC, Oulu, Finland
Conference Name:
42nd International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (ISARC)
Conference Location:
Montreal, Canada
Conference Sponsor:
The International Association for Automation and Robotics in Construction
View DOI Listing:
https://doi.org/10.22260/ISARC2025/0003

Abstract

Cable-Driven Parallel Robots (CDPRs) are highly suitable for automated panelized building retrofits, thanks to their compact footprint and high payload-to-weight ratio. A common CDPR configuration featuring eight cables, where the anchors form a rectangular prism in front of the building facade, offers a large wrench feasible workspace and good control versatility. However, installing upper anchor points requires additional support structures, such as towers or beams, increasing setup complexity and posing logistical challenges in construction settings. To mitigate these challenges, we propose a six-cable CDPR model specifically designed for automated panelized building retrofits. Although the feasible workspace is limited, our analysis shows that the proposed CDPR adequately covers the critical areas required for panel installation. To validate that the six-cable system can effectively transport the end effector to the desired installation pose, we calculated optimal trajectories based on a constrained dynamic model. The simulation results of the six-cable CDPR demonstrate promising potential for automated panelized building retrofits, effectively balancing simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and functionality.