AI and robotics are revolutionizing many industries, but construction is a slow mover, and so far, we have not seen any dramatic changes. This is set to change eventually, but one company has convinced us it may be sooner than we originally thought.

BUILT ROBOTICS

Built Robotics is a San Francisco based software company that converts existing heavy-duty equipment with AI-based guidance systems like that of autonomous vehicles. In doing this, processes such as earth removal become autonomous, monitored by equipment operators. The potential for this technology is huge. Firstly, the costs of labour are dramatically reduced meaning lower construction costs, but further to this, these machines can now work around the clock with drastically low safety concerns. We found a fantastic interview with Built Robotics Founder Ready-Campbell, check it out.

THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS TECHNOLOGY

What is most exciting about this company to us, is the implications this technology could have across all construction processes and what that means for the industry, as Ready-Campbell states:

“If we can figure out ways to let the humans focus on the design, the aesthetic, the art that goes along with building, and then let machines do the more repetitive and mundane tasks, we can actually shape our environment in a way that could have a radical impact on everything.”

Now we don’t believe construction sites will be filled with autonomous robots anytime soon, the complexity of most processes are just too difficult to replicate as it stands and having a different robot for each one is simply not economical. However, we could see companies like Built Robotics become incredibly influential. Processes such as earth removal, demolition, compacting and more are easily convertible to this system, while also being crucial to almost every major project in the world.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Expect to see companies like Built Robotics continue to expand their repertoire of autonomous services. In conjunction with this we expect to see additional robotic improvements in areas such as prefabricated housing. If these two areas continue to develop as they are it could offer new and exciting opportunities within the industry, lower construction costs and drastically improve the speed of development.