Built Robotics
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Construction automation, Robotics, Artificial intelligence |
| Founded | January 1, 2016 in San Francisco, California, United States |
| Founder | Noah Ready-Campbell, Andrew Liang |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
| Products | Exosystem (autonomous retrofit kit), RPD 35 (Robotic Pile Driver) |
Built Robotics Inc., established in San Francisco in 2016 by Noah Ready-Campbell and Andrew Liang, specializes in creating integrated software and hardware solutions to automate heavy construction machinery. Its flagship offering, the "Exosystem," is an aftermarket retrofit kit that equips existing equipment with autonomous functionality through the use of GPS, camera systems, and artificial intelligence.
Exosystem
Originating development efforts in 2018 and officially released in 2021, the Exosystem facilitates autonomous operations such as excavation, earthmoving, and pile driving. This system is mounted on excavator tails and is compatible with machines from leading brands including Caterpillar, Hitachi, John Deere, and Volvo. It incorporates a weatherproof enclosure containing all essential hardware and software components, alongside an array of sensors like cameras, GPS units, and inertial measurement units (IMUs) affixed to the machinery.
Control of heavy equipment is achieved through electric-over-hydraulic (EH) mechanisms, enabling both autonomous functions and remote operation while allowing for manual override when necessary. Operators known as "Robot Equipment Operators" (REOs) initiate the system before autonomous control takes over. These REOs utilize Built Robotics' proprietary web-based platform, Everest, to seamlessly toggle between autonomous and remote control modes.
RPD 35
In 2023, Built Robotics ventured into the utility-scale solar sector with the introduction of the RPD 35 (Robotic Pile Driver), a robotic excavator designed to automate critical solar pile installation processes. The company emphasizes the RPD 35’s ability to autonomously survey pile locations, distribute piles efficiently, drive them into place, and produce as-built documentation. This solution adapts a Caterpillar 335 excavator by integrating an Exosystem kit, specialized pile-carrying sleds, and a custom-designed hammer.
Proof of Concept
Built Robotics attracted industry attention in 2018 as a trailblazer in construction equipment automation amid the sector’s traditionally slow technological adoption. The company leveraged challenges such as skilled labor shortages in construction and heavy equipment operation alongside increasing infrastructure renewal and housing demand.
Positioning itself as the first commercial provider of fully autonomous heavy machinery for construction purposes, Built Robotics established a reputation as an innovator. Founder Noah Ready-Campbell—formerly a Google product manager and startup founder—drew inspiration from his carpenter father to create autonomous technology tailored for construction environments.
AI Guidance System
The company’s initial product, the AI Guidance System, was developed starting in 2016 and launched by 2018. This system enabled autonomous control of excavation and grading equipment including skid-steers, compact track loaders (CTLs), excavators, and bulldozers. Built Robotics expanded this technology to retrofit a variety of existing construction machines targeting sectors such as heavy civil engineering, wind energy, residential construction, solar installations, and utilities. By 2023, the firm concentrated efforts on the solar industry by developing an autonomous pile-driving robot specifically for utility-scale solar projects.
Financing
Built Robotics is a Series C company that has secured a cumulative investment of US$112 million through its Series A, B, and C funding rounds. Its backers include prominent investors such as Tiger Global, Next47, NEA, Founders Fund, Building Ventures, Presidio Ventures (Sumitomo Corporation), Lemnos, among others. The advisory board boasts distinguished members like Carl Bass, Jeff Immelt, and Justin Kan.
Patents
The company possesses multiple United States patents, including those titled "Excavating earth from a dig site using an excavation vehicle," "Obstacle detection and manipulation by a vehicle within a dig site," and "Checking volume in an excavation tool," which underscore its advancements in autonomous construction technologies.
Markets
Built Robotics deploys its autonomous machinery across several states in the US where regulatory approval is not mandatory for operation on private roads. In March 2020, the firm entered the international market by securing its first client in Australia, MPC Kinetic. Notable clients and collaborators encompass Black & Veatch, MPC Kinetic, Mortenson, and Sunstate.
Labor Relations
In March 2020, Built Robotics established a collaboration with the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) to provide training on its automation systems to union members, addressing workforce shortages in the sector. This alliance was extended through 2026 in 2023, with IUOE leaders emphasizing the benefits of advanced training programs offered to over 400,000 union members.
Roin Technologies
In 2023, Built Robotics acquired Roin Technologies, recognized for creating the first automated concrete power trowel. Roin focused on automating tasks within the concrete industry. Following the acquisition, founder and CEO Jim Delaney joined Built Robotics. The company revealed intentions to incorporate Roin’s automated power trowel and shotcrete robot innovations into its current software and hardware solutions.