Mobile Robot for Floor Grinding
Abstract
Wood floor grinding is a labor-intensive and repetitive task, traditionally performed with heavy machinery that still requires continuous human operation. This exposes workers to dust, noise, and physical injury risks, while demanding skill to achieve a uniform finish. Automating this process offers a step-change in both safety and efficiency for the construction industry.
We developed and tested an automated approach that enables a robot to grind floors evenly and reliably without human intervention. By simulating and optimizing coverage path planning strategies, we identified a rotated zig-zag trajectory as the most effective, reducing errors and ensuring a consistent surface finish. The software was successfully deployed onto a custom-built robotic platform and validated in a real apartment setting, proving the feasibility of autonomous sanding in practice.
The impact of this work extends far beyond wood floors. The approach establishes a transferable framework for automating other heavy, repetitive, and safety-critical surface treatments such as concrete grinding, polishing, or even painting and spraying. By combining simulation-driven development with real-world validation, this project demonstrates how robotics can rapidly improve workplace safety, boost efficiency, and accelerate the adoption of autonomous systems in construction and related industries.
Publication Reference
F&E Konferenz
Year
2026-01-29