• Posted: May 17, 2023
• BuildingPoint Midwest, Chicago, Elbert Walters III, electrical construction industry, Episode 4, John Stepanian, Maron Electric, Nick Dionne, robots, South Loop, The Power of Better, Trimble Field Technology

The newest episode of The Power of Better brings viewers to a South Loop high-rise building to learn how robotic dogs and Robotic Total Stations (RTS) are improving safety, efficiency, and cost effectiveness in construction.

“The Robotic Total Station (RTS) is basically replacing the traditional method of doing your layout,” said Nick Dionne, field technology account executive at BuildingPoint Midwest, the local dealer for Trimble Field Technology, the innovators of RTS and Spot the robotic dog.

Dionne demonstrates how Spot the robotic dog, a robot that’s manufactured to look like an actual dog, navigates a job site to gather information and send data to the cloud to save time and money.

Citing boosted workplace safety, time and cost savings, electrical contractors like Maron Electric have been all-in on this technology for the last five years.

“You have less people laying out the job and they can be installing. It used to be multiple people laying out and everyone’s waiting on the layout to be done, now it can be being done at the same process since it’s moving so much quicker,” said John Stepanian, journeyman electrician at Maron Electric and Trimble Technology expert.

Stepanian says that perhaps the biggest benefit is the ability to see problems before they happen. For instance, knowing if a wall is moved ever so slightly. This gives Maron Electric and other like-minded contractors an advantage over those not using these technologies.

While robotic dogs and RTS are currently being used in several ways, those familiar with the technologies see even more possibilities in the near future.

“Spot may be able to assist in layout or do your layout for you. The sky’s the limit with him,” said Dionne.

If you’re interested in learning more about how robots can be used to better the electrical construction industry, check out the latest episode of The Power of Better. While you’re there, be sure to subscribe to Powering Chicago’s YouTube channel to make sure you don’t miss an episode.