Research in Intelligent Work explores how autonomous robots with interoception-inspired internal state representations enable self-reflection, continual learning, and adaptive responses to dynamic tasks and environments. The objective is to drive toward artificial general intelligence in co-robotic work environments to address: growing need for productivity improvements in manufacturing, logistics, and construction; shortages and rising cost of skilled labor; and work environments that are increasingly non-amenable to pre-programmed robots due to quasi repetitive nature of the work.
Embedded Files
Translational Capabilities
Real-Time Process-Level Digital Twins
Human-Robot Imitation Learning
Multimodal Human-Agent Interfaces
Metrology for Unstructured Work
Publications (Click to Expand)
Xu, Y., Shen, Q., Kamat, V., & Menassa, C. (2026). KUKAloha: A General, Low-Cost, and Shared-Control based Teleoperation Framework for Construction Robot Arm. arXiv preprint arXiv:2603.20129.
Atibila, D. W., Kamat, V. R., & Menassa, C. C. (2026). Advancing Improvisation in Human-Robot Construction Collaboration: Taxonomy and Research Roadmap. arXiv preprint arXiv:2601.17219.
Yu, H., Kamat, V. R., & Menassa, C. C. (2025). Generalizable Skill Learning for Construction Robots with Crowdsourced Natural Language Instructions, Composable Skills Standardization, and a Large Language Model. ASCE OPEN: Multidisciplinary Journal of Civil Engineering, 3(1), 04025014.
Park, S., Menassa, C. C., & Kamat, V. R. (2025). Integrating large language models with multimodal virtual reality interfaces to support collaborative human–robot construction work. Journal of computing in civil engineering, 39(1), 04024053.
Yu, H,. Kamat, V, and Menassa, C. (2025). “Generalizable Skill Learning for Construction Robots with Crowdsourced Natural Language Instructions, Composable Skills Standardization, and Large Language Model.” ASCE Open: Multidisciplinary Journal of Civil Engineering. ASCE. https://doi.org/10.1061/AOMJAH.AOENG-0082.
Zhou, X., Menassa, C. and Kamat, V. (2025). “Interoceptive Robotic Agents for Shared Control and Learning in Collaborative Construction Work.” Proceedings of the International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (ISARC), IAARC. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22260/ISARC2025/0032.
Park, S., Menassa, C. and Kamat, V. (2025). “ChatGPT Based Multimodal Virtual Reality Interface to Support Collaborative Human-Robot Construction Work.” Proceedings of the 2024 ASCE International Conference on Computing in Civil Engineering (i3CE). https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784486115.097
Yu, H., Zhu, X., Kamat, V. and Menassa, C. (2025). “Hierarchical Construction Task Decomposition and Robot Imitation Learning in an Immersive Virtual Reality Environment.” Proceedings of the 2024 ASCE International Conference on Computing in Civil Engineering (i3CE). https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784486115.087.
Park, S., Menassa, C., Kamat, V. and Chai, J. (2024). “Integrating Large Language Models with Multimodal Virtual Reality Interfaces to Support Collaborative Human–Robot Construction Work.” Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering. ASCE. 39 (1). https://doi.org/10.1061/JCCEE5.CPENG-6106
Wang, X., Yu, H., McGee, W., Menassa, C. and Kamat, V. (2024). “Enabling BIM-Driven Robotic Construction Workflows with Closed-Loop Digital Twins.” Computers in Industry Elsevier. 161 (October 2024). DOI:. 10.1016/j.compind.2024.104112
Park, S., Wang, X., Menassa, C., Kamat, V. and Chai, J. (2024). “Natural Language Instructions for Intuitive Human Interaction with Robotic Assistants in Field Construction Work.” Automation in Construction. Elsevier. 161 (May 2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105345.
Yu, H,. Kamat, V, and Menassa, C. (2024). “Cloud-Based Hierarchical Imitation Learning for Scalable Transfer of Construction Skills from Human Workers to Assisting Robots.” Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering. ASCE. DOI: 10.1061/JCCEE5.CPENG-5731.
Yu, H,. Kamat, V, Menassa, C., McGee, W., Guo, Y. and Lee, H. (2024). “Grip State Recognition for Enabling Safe Human-Robot Object Handover in Physically Collaborative Construction Work.” Proceedings of the 2023 ASCE International Conference on Computing in Civil Engineering (i3CE). (pp. 787-795). doi:10.1061/9780784485224.095
Park, S., Menassa, C. and Kamat, V. (2024). “Joint BERT Model for Intent Classification and Slot Filling Analysis of Natural Language Instructions in Co-Robotic Field Construction Work.” Proceedings of the 2023 ASCE International Conference on Computing in Civil Engineering (i3CE). (pp. 453-460). doi:10.1061/9780784485224.055
Wang, X., Wang, S., Menassa, C., Kamat, V. and McGee W. (2023). “Automatic High-Level Motion Sequencing Methods for Enabling Multi-Tasking Construction Robots.” Automation in Construction. Elsevier. 155 (Nov. 2023). DOI:10.1016/j.autcon.2023.105071
Yu, H,. Kamat, V, Menassa, C., McGee, W., Guo, Y. and Lee, H. (2023). “Mutual Physical State-Aware Object Handover in Full-Contact Collaborative Human-Robot Construction Work.” Automation in Construction. Elsevier. DOI: 10.1016/j.autcon.2023.104829.
Park, S., Yu, H., Menassa, C. and Kamat, V. (2023). “A Comprehensive Evaluation of Factors Influencing Acceptance of Robotic Assistants in Field Construction Work.” Journal of Management in Engineering. ASCE. DOI: 10.1061/JMENEA/MEENG-5227.
Liang, C.J., McGee, W., Menassa, C and Kamat, V. (2022). “Real-time state synchronization between physical construction robots and process-level digital twins.” Construction Robotics. Springer. 6. 57–73. DOI: 10.1007/s41693-022-00068-1.
Liang, C.J., Kamat, V., Menassa, C. and McGee, W. (2022). “Trajectory-Based Skill Learning for Overhead Construction Robots Using Generalized Cylinders with Orientation.” Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering. ASCE. 36 (2). 04021036:1 -17. ASCE John O. Bickel Award.
Wang, X., Liang, C.J., Menassa, C. and Kamat, V. (2021). “Interactive and Immersive Process-Level Digital Twin for Collaborative Human-Robot Construction Work.” Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering. ASCE. 35 (6). 04021023: 1-19.
Liang, C.J., Wang, X., Kamat, V. and Menassa, C. (2021). "Human-Robot Collaboration in Construction: Classification and Research Trends." Journal of Construction Engineering and Management. ASCE. 147 (10). 03121006-1. 1-23.
Liang, C.J., Kamat, V. and Menassa, C. (2020). "Teaching robots to perform quasi-repetitive construction tasks through human demonstration." Automation in Construction, Elsevier. 120, December 2020, Pages 103370: 1-14.
Liang, C.J., McGee, W., Menassa, C., and Kamat, V. (2020). "Bi-directional communication bridge for state synchronization between digital twin simulations and physical construction robots." Proceedings of the International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (ISARC), IAARC, Kitakyshu, Japan (Online). 1480–1487. https://doi.org/10.22260/ISARC2020/0205.
Wang, X., Liang, C.J., Menassa, C. C., and Kamat, V. R. (2020). "Real-time process-level digital twin for collaborative human-robot construction work." Proceedings of the International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (ISARC), IAARC, Kitakyshu, Japan (Online). 1528–1535. https://doi.org/10.22260/ISARC2020/0212.
Liang, C. J., Lundeen, K., McGee, W., Menassa, C., Lee, S. and Kamat, V. (2019). "A Vision-based Marker-less Pose Estimation System for Articulated Construction Robots." Automation in Construction, Elsevier. 104, August 2019, 80-94.
Lundeen, K., Kamat, V., Menassa, C. and McGee, W. (2019). “Autonomous motion planning and task execution in geometrically adaptive robotized construction work.” Automation in Construction, Elsevier. 100, April 2019, Pages 24-45.
Liang, C. J., Kamat, V. and Menassa, C. (2019). " Teaching Robots to Perform Construction Tasks via Learning from Demonstration." Proceedings of the 2019 International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction, Banff, Canada. (36) 1305-1311.
Liang, C. J., Lundeen, K., McGee, W., Menassa, C., Lee, S. and Kamat, V. (2019). "Fast Dataset Collection Approach for Articulated Equipment Pose Estimation." Proceedings of the 2019 ASCE International Conference on Computing in Civil Engineering (i3CE), Atlanta, GA. 146-152.
Lundeen, K., Kamat, V., Menassa, C. and McGee, W. (2019). “Planning and Execution for Geometrically Adaptive BIM-Driven Robotized Construction Processes.” Proceedings of the 2019 ASCE International Conference on Computing in Civil Engineering (i3CE), Atlanta, GA, USA. 336-343.
Lundeen, K., Kamat, V., Menassa, C. and McGee, W. (2018) “Adaptive Perception and Modeling for Robotized Construction Joint Filling.” Proceedings of the 35th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction and Mining (ISARC), Berlin, Germany. 244-251.
Liang, C.J., Lundeen, K.M., McGee, W., Menassa, C. C., Lee, S., Kamat, V.R., (2018) “Stacked Hourglass Networks for Markerless Pose Estimation of Articulated Construction Robots.” Proceedings of the 35th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction and Mining (ISARC), Berlin, Germany. 859-865.
Lundeen, K., Kamat, V. and Menassa, C. (2018). "Workpiece Modeling for Adaptive Robotized Construction Work." 2018 Construction Research Congress (CRC), New Orleans, LA. 1-11.
Liang, C.J., Kamat, V. and Menassa, C. (2018). "Real-Time Construction Site Layout and Equipment Monitoring." 2018 Construction Research Congress (CRC), New Orleans, LA. 64-74.
Lundeen, K., Kamat, V. and Menassa, C. (2017). "Scene Understanding for Adaptive Manipulation in Robotized Construction Work." Automation in Construction, Elsevier. 82 (October 2017), 16-30.
Feng, C., Kamat, V. and Menassa, C. (2016). “Marker Assisted Structure from Motion for 3D Environment Modeling and Object Pose Estimation.” 2016 Construction Research Congress (CRC), San Juan, Puerto Rico. 2604-2613.
Yang, C., Kamat, V. and Menassa, C. (2016). “BIMap: Plan Drawings as Tangible Interfaces for Building Information Models.” 2016 Construction Research Congress (CRC), San Juan, Puerto Rico. 2239-2249.
Media (Click to Expand)
“Q&A: U-M CEE Engineers at the Forefront of Construction Automation.” UM CEE. April 17, 2025.
“KUKA Robots Selected for Grant Research Project.” Modern Machine Shop, January 2022.
“How To Reinvent Construction Using Robotics.” The Next Byte Podcast, Episode 36, September 2021.
“Project to Bring Smart Robots to Construction Sites.” ASCE SmartBrief for Civil Engineers, September 2021.
“UM Developing Robotic Assistants to Advance Construction Industry” ForConstructionPros.com, September 2021.
“U-M to Lead Research Team Bringing VR Robots to Construction Sites.” dbusiness.com (Detroit’s Premiere Business Journal), September 2021.
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