Boston Dynamics, the company behind the viral robot dog ‘Spot’, has teamed up with tech-led construction firm Trimble to bring its technology to construction sites.
The two firms will integrate a variety of construction data collection technologies with Boston Dynamics’ robot platform.
The new project is expected to be available by the second quarter of next year in the UK and other global locations.
The solution, to be made available through select BuildingPoint and SITECH distribution partners, will combine the Spot robot’s autonomous mobility with Trimble’s data collection sensors and field control software to enable automation of repetitive tasks such as site scans, surveying and progress monitoring.
The partnership is hoped to take advantage of the robot’s capabilities to navigate uneven and potentially unsafe environments.
Trimble, which has offices in more than 40 countries and three sites in the UK, will gain exclusivity to sell and support the Spot robot with integrated scanning and navigation technologies for the construction market.
The construction-focused robotics project is hoped to enable construction project managers to get a clear picture of jobsite progress on an ongoing basis.
Mortenson, a U.S. builder, developer and engineering services provider headquartered in Minneapolis, is one of the first customers to introduce the robot to its sites, where it will document existing site conditions.
“Robots will play a crucial role in automated construction workflows and can augment the human workforce by handling dirty, dull and dangerous tasks,” said Martin Holmgren, general manager, Building Field Solutions at Trimble.
“Our experience with early adopters like Mortenson gave us visibility into the transformative potential of an integrated solution that seamlessly marries a world-class robot with construction-specific sensors and workflows. We’re excited about this alliance and the potential to bring unprecedented improvements in safety, quality and productivity to our construction customers.”
Michael Perry, vice president of business development at Boston Dynamics added: “We believe the combination of Trimble’s experience and industry leadership in construction technologies and Boston Dynamics’ Spot can transform the way the industry operates.
“The integrated solution will enable any jobsite leader to deploy Spot and Trimble technologies to get an accurate view of construction progress through real-time data collection.
“With a more comprehensive view of site activity, project managers can take proactive measures to ensure on-time, on-budget and safer project delivery.”