36 th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (ISARC 2019) A New UAV-based Module Lifting and Transporting Method: Advantages and Challenges Jin Ouk Choi a and Dong Bin Kim b a Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction, University of Nevada, Las Vegas b Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nevada, Las Vegas E-mail: jinouk.choi@unlv.edu, dongbin.kim@unlv.edu Abstract – The modular construction technique is the one key technology that can substantially advance the competitiveness of the construction industry. However, the industry is having difficulty creating an optimum environment for broader and more effective use of modularization due to one key barrier: implementing a modular construction technique, that is, shipping modules from the fabrication shop to the build site. Multiple issues are potentially challenging to overcome, such as module size and center of gravity, rigging, tie-down, site access, site congestion, and transportation regulations, as well as the availability of local heavy lift equipment. The researchers propose to implement drones as a way to address module transportation challenges and innovative logistics of modules. The primary research objectives are to innovate logistics with a new drone-based module lifting/transporting method, consisting of a drone lifting/transporting a module from below, similar to a pallet. In this paper, the researchers present key challenges and potential advantages, which have been identified from a manual test flight of the new method, with a drone lifting/transporting an acrylic cube box from below. The key challenges identified from the manual test flight are 1) limited payload, 2) limited power supply, 3) dynamic properties of a module; 4) agility/instability of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and 5) regulations. Through the use of the drone- based module method, the researchers expect that lifting/transporting times and costs can be significantly reduced, eventually diminishing total installation costs, and expediting the overall construction process. This study will lead to the development of a drone-based module transportation framework for practitioners in the construction industry. Keywords – Modular construction; Modularization; UAS; Drone; Logistics; Module transportation; Lifting 1 Introduction Modular construction is a manufacturing and installation technique that specializes in exporting site- based development to an offsite location. The modular construction technique has been utilized for centuries. Yet, in the past, modular construction was limited to lower levels of modularization. Moreover, many modular projects failed to achieve expected levels of performance or full benefits due to poor planning, poor management, late scope commitment, design changes, union jurisdictional problems, and/or module shipping failure. However, thanks to the advancement of robotics, information technology (IT), and Building Information Modeling (BIM) technologies, as well as an increased awareness of green construction and lean principles, the modular construction technique has rapidly evolved. This has enabled practitioners to plan and manage a modular project better, fabricate modules more precisely, and apply the modular technique to bigger and more complicated projects. It is now evident that practitioners and researchers in the construction industry recognize the value of modular construction. The potential of the modular construction technique will continue to grow [1] as the productivity growth of fabrication shops increase [2]. An inevitable disadvantage of the modular construction technique, compared to the conventional stick-build method, and one key barrier to implementing this technique is shipping modules to the build site and lifting/placing modules at final installation locations [3– 6]. Multiple issues, such as module size and center of gravity, rigging, tie-down, site access, site congestion, onsite storage areas, transportation rules, regulations, delivery time restrictions, traffic, and local heavy lift equipment availability can potentially add costs for module transport and lift [3,6]. If the construction industry can innovate module logistics and shipping processes, the industry may accomplish broader and more effective use of modularization.