Collaborative robotic system for optimizing the execution of interior fit-out works: architecture, industrial quantification, and experimental validation

The interior fit-out sector generates between 30% and 40% of the total cost of a construction project, of which up to 30% is attributable to rework processes and to logistical inefficiencies caused by the variability of craft-based labour. This paper proposes and quantifies a Collaborative Robotic System (CRS) for the industrialization of finishing works, built around three principal technical components: (1) an omnidirectional mobile platform with Mecanum wheels and LiDAR navigation; (2) a 6-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) manipulator arm; and (3) a closed-loop active rheological control algorithm of the PID type. The main contribution consists in a comparative quantitative analysis based on a life-cycle cost (LCC) model, validated through two case studies (a 3,000 m² corporate headquarters and a hospital ICU ward). The calculations demonstrate a 34.6% reduction in execution time, a direct material saving of 14.8%, the elimination of 96.3% of rework costs, and an investment payback period (IPP) of 9.3 months in the intermediate scenario. The return on investment (ROI) calculated over 10 years of operation is 218%, 2.7 times higher than the sector average. The results validate the potential of the CRS to structurally transform productivity and quality in the fit-out sector, with a direct impact on economic sustainability and occupational health.