Robotic Teleoperation of Construction Machinery: Technologies, Applications, and Future Directions

Robotic teleoperation of construction machinery effectively separates operators from hazardous environments, greatly enhancing safety for tasks in challenging working conditions such as earthmoving. Furthermore, by utilising advanced technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), automated hazard recognition, Mixed Reality (MR), and robotics, it facilitates a more thorough capture of reality, immersive and augmented visualisations, and refined control precision. Consequently, robotic teleoperation is swiftly gaining prominence in the construction industry, and the considerable development of teleoperation systems over recent decades, featured by a growing diversity of incoporated technologies, necessities a comprehensive review. Thus, this review paper delves into the deployment of teleoperation systems across various construction machinery and tasks. It further explores the fundamental technologies behind robotic teleoperation systems proposed in previous literature, regarding reality capture, communication networks, and feedback and control interfaces. Following that, this study investigates a range of human-machine interaction mechanism, from manual control to the supervision of automated operations. By providing an in-depth analysis of current capabilities and applications of teleoperation systems, this paper aims to mapping the research landscape, identify the challenges, highlight the transformative potential of robotic teleoperation systems, and suggest directions for future research.