Strata Dog Pivots to Construction

Like all good start-ups, we’re pivoting to the next big thing …

In the entrepreneurial world of tech start-ups when things aren’t working; you pivot. So, when no-one wants to buy your product or service, we find something else for it to do. That’s why Strata Dog is now Build it Dog.

Warning !!! This is a satirical piece.

[5:50 minutes estimated reading time, 1073 words]

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Introduction

Earlier this year I announced the launch of Strata Dog, your high-tech strata helper, in my article ‘Strata Dog is Coming to Your Building [Soonish]’.

But, despite my high hopes for Strata Dog and the high demand for and successes that biologically based dogs and other animals have enjoyed in strata buildings this year, it hasn’t panned out so well for our mechanical friend.  As no strata stakeholders have purchased one yet. 

It’s disappointing since I know that after some familiarisation time, strata residents would enjoy seeing Strata Dog wandering around their buildings day and night looking after their best interests [even if they didn’t understand why]. 

But, alas, maybe I’m ahead of my time with that prediction?

So, I’ve looked for an alternate use case for Strata Dog to pivot that high-tech building technology business and, fortunately, found an even better place to deploy its skills.

And, this one’s a definite winner.

The use case for Build it Good Dog

Strata Dog will now be rebranded as Build it Good Dog. 

Build it Good Dog is every strata developer and builders new high-tech construction defects quality assurance friend.

Build it Good Dog is a mechanised, yet friendly and diligent, construction companion, who can wander your strata building development continuously to check on and deal with all those pesky construction issues that lead to defects plus a lot, a lot more.

Strata Dog can do almost everything you need to keep an eye on strata building construction to ensure there are no defects including the following special tasks.

Plan & specification uploads & monitoring

Upload all your construction plans and specifications using BIM [see my article ‘BIM & the next stage of digitalised buildings ... ‘] to the Good Building Cloud [* trademarked] and Build it Good Dog can access them in real-time as base materials for its patrols, checks and verifications.

If a wall, floor, window, fire damper, or even a toilet is in the wrong place, Build it Good Dog will identify it and raise the alarm [or more] subject to your pre-programmed protocols. 

Want Build it Good Dog to demolish the offending item?  No problem, just add the small explosives arm option to its arsenal.

Or, just want Build it Good Dog to berate the relevant tradesperson on-site?  Program want you want it to say or bark at the poor human [rated up to XXX language protocols] and its cross human/dog synthesised voice will bark out the commands until the error is fixed.  At the moment the voice is based on Bane from The Dark Knight Rises so that it’s authoritative but encouraging.

As an extra option, Build it Good Dog can also check construction against the Building Code of Australia and Australian Standards.  But, I don’t expect a lot of developers and builders to select that option.

Payload capacity

Build it Good Dog also has an excellent payload capacity, able to carry 100kg of materials, tools, equipment or [even] people to and from parts of the construction site to save time and energy for biologically based workers.

So, there are no excuses anymore that they didn’t have what they needed to do the job properly or ran out of something.

Plus, in downtimes and during smoko breaks, site workers could also entertain themselves with rides on Build it Good Dog.  But, please note that the warranty excludes damage caused by unsafe human usage and liability indemnity doesn’t extend to personal injuries.

Covid safe and PHO sidestepping

Build it Good Dog is built to withstand 50 PSI sanitiser sprays, so it can be cleaned to COVID safe levels at any time.

Plus it doesn’t need Covid testing and is exempt from any Public Health Orders limiting who can be on-site and worker numbers per square meter.

So, as Build it Good Dog says: No lockdown for me !!!

Optional extras

There’s also a range of optional extras that can be purchased and fitted to Build it Good Dog to add to its functionality including:

• A moisture meter for detecting water and damp

• Smoke sensors to test firewall and door permeability

• Panel gap measuring tools

• Water sprays for window leak tests

• Suction feet for external façade examination work

• Grappling hook [just for fun really]

• Infrared camera for nighttime operation

Other extras can be designed and supplied on request, at an additional cost.

Build it Good Dog protocols

Of course, like all robots Build it Good Dog must have pre-programmed protocols and rules so that it doesn’t go haywire and cause problems for strata developers and builders. 

But, for this market and our pivot, I’ve had to take some liberty with Issac Asimonv’s classic Three Rules of Robotics as follows.

Rule 1:   Build it Good Dog must apply, identify and enforce all plan and specification requirements for the construction of the strata building to ensure quality construction except where such orders would conflict with the first and second rules. [The compliance rule]

Rule 2:   Build it Good Dog must ensure that the strata construction process is not delayed except when real estate prices are rising more than the prevailing interest rate on project costs so far projected against time to sunset clause triggers. [The finish on time [maybe] rule]

Rule 3:   Build it Good Dog must protect and maximise its owners’ profits. [The profit rule]

These simple protocols ensure that Build it Good Dog is both a great way to demonstrate quality assurance on construction sites whilst returning an excellent ROI.

Register your interest now

Build it Good Dog is yours for a bargain price of $150K, or, on long term hire plan  That’s less than the price of an experienced project manager.  So, Build it Good Dog will pay for itself in savings, profits and reduced building defect claims within a single project.

And, even if it doesn’t, how much fun will it be knowing that adorable high-tech dog is on-site harassing everyone.

I can’t wait for the first prototype Build it Good Dog to be delivered for a test strata building construction run.

October 08, 2021

Francesco ...