The Tianchan system has been put into use in Qingdao, Shandong province, east China. (PHOTO: XINHUA)

By Staff Reporters

A residential building in Qingdao, Shandong province in east China, presents an unusual sight. It is covered with a huge blue "box."

The box is the Tianchan system and the secret behind the building's rapid rise.

The Tianchan system is an advanced and integrated construction system that incorporates various automated robots.

The robots operate along tracks on top while human construction workers labor below. This collaboration in all construction processes has streamlined the work and made it safer and faster. It can also be used for maintenance once the construction is over.

For safety in high-altitude operations, the Tianchan system uses a suspension frame and enclosure system. In severe weather, the foldable canopy on the top of the system can be unfolded, covering the entire work area and sheltering workers.

Additionally, the system is modular and has a standardized component design, which makes it easy to install and disassemble for reuse, saving resources.

According to Huang Yunchang, technical director of the project contractor, the Tianchan system covers the entire construction area and has an automatic climbing formwork.

Compared with traditional construction methods, it can reduce labor by more than 50 percent, shorten the construction period by approximately 30 percent, and achieve a construction speed of up to one floor in five days.