AI Construction Robots Enter Construction Sites: Feng Chia University Wins the Common Creation Model Award in the USR Industry Category by Global Views

Feng Chia University has won the 2025 6th Global Views USR University Social Responsibility Award in the "Industry Common Creation Group" category with its "Construction Automation: AI Construction Robots" project. It is the only university in Taiwan to receive this honor for smart construction and AI technology. The project, led by Associate Professor Yu-Ting Sheng from the School of Architecture, focuses on the urgent needs of the construction industry for labor shortages and industrial upgrades. It not only demonstrates the innovative power of academic research and development but also serves as a model for the successful implementation of AI technology, precisely addressing industry pain points.

This year's USR awards were highly competitive, with 215 projects competing for 67 awards, a 25.7% increase in the number of entries compared to last year, indicating the growing emphasis and investment in sustainability and social responsibility in higher education. Feng Chia University's project stood out and was selected as the model for the Industry Common Creation Group, showcasing its profound strength and social impact in the field of smart construction.

Vice-President Shwu-Ting Lee of Feng Chia University and Associate Professor Yu-Ting Sheng from the School of Architecture attended the award ceremony of the 2025 6th Global Views USR University Social Responsibility Award together.

The team led by Associate Professor Sheng collaborated with Associate Professor Shih-Yuan Wang from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University to develop an intelligent construction system that integrates 3D scanning, spatial positioning, BIM technology, and machine learning to address the labor shortage and industrial upgrade needs of the construction industry. They successfully developed robots capable of performing plastering work on-site. This project not only received 17.5 million NTD in funding support from the National Science Council but also obtained eight technical patents in Taiwan, the United States, and Japan, demonstrating high levels of technological innovation and international influence.

The project's results have been widely applied in practical scenarios, including basement plastering work at the social housing site of Total Construction and ceiling painting work at Shang Ding Construction, verifying the feasibility of the technology through industry cooperation, promoting the intelligence and safety of construction site processes. Furthermore, the team successfully cultivated 13 Feng Chia University students to enter cooperative enterprises for employment and established a campus-derived startup company, Logic Numerical Co., Ltd., shaping a comprehensive USR practice model from education, research, practice to entrepreneurship, truly fulfilling the university's key role in industrial transformation and social responsibility.

AI construction robots have been widely applied in practical scenarios, including basement plastering work at the social housing site of Total Construction and ceiling painting work at Shang Ding Construction.

Associate Professor Sheng emphasized, "Education should not only happen in the classroom but should also connect with industry and society. We hope students can learn in the process of solving real problems, which is the greatest value of education." In the future, the team will continue to advance the development of exterior wall construction robots and low-carbon construction systems, aiming to lead the construction industry from labor-intensive to technology-intensive, bringing sustainable innovation to Taiwan's construction industry.

In addition to technological innovation, the project also incorporates artistic and international design perspectives, creating Taiwan's first and the world's third cement 3D printed chair, "Rhythmic Water, Slow Flow," which won the 2024 German iF Design Award, showcasing the strength of cross-disciplinary integration of technology and aesthetics. The team will continue to develop exterior wall construction robots and low-carbon construction systems, hoping to promote Taiwan's construction industry from labor-intensive to technology-intensive, creating a sustainable, smart, and innovative future.

Feng Chia University has always adhered to the core values of "practicing USR and cultivating future talents." The award won by Associate Professor Sheng not only highlights Feng Chia University's outstanding achievements in smart construction and cross-disciplinary innovation but also demonstrates the university's strength and commitment to linking society and leading industrial upgrades.