Built Robotics

Lore & Background

Built Robotics began attracting attention in 2018 as one of several new companies bringing automation to the construction industry, which had been relatively slow to adopt technical innovations. Commentators noted that a dearth of skilled workers and a need for infrastructure renewal were likely driving forces behind the industry's adoption of new technologies. Founder Noah Ready-Campbell, a former Google product manager, got his inspiration from his father, who worked as a carpenter.

The company's first product was the AI Guidance System, which began development in 2016 and was first brought to market in 2018. This technology was marketed for excavation and grading on skid-steers, CTLs, excavators, and bulldozers. In 2023, Built narrowed its focus to the solar industry by developing the RPD 35 (Robotic Pile Driver), an excavator-based robot that automates multiple steps in the solar piling process. The RPD 35 uses a modified Caterpillar 335 with an Exosystem, pile-carrying sleds, and a custom-engineered hammer.

In 2023, Built Robotics acquired Roin Technologies, a company claiming to be the makers of the first automated concrete power trowel. The technologies underlying Roin's automated power trowel and shotcrete robot were to be integrated into Built's software and hardware systems. The company has also formed a formal partnership with the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), which trains its members to use the Built Robotics automation platform.

Reader's Guide

Built Robotics represents a significant shift in the construction industry toward automation, addressing a chronic shortage of skilled heavy equipment operators. The company's Exosystem allows existing machinery from major manufacturers such as Caterpillar, Hitachi, John Deere, and Volvo to operate autonomously or via remote control, with human oversight provided by Robot Equipment Operators (REOs) through a cloud-based platform called Everest. The technology has been deployed on job sites in multiple US states, which do not require regulatory approval for autonomous equipment used on non-public roads, and has expanded internationally with clients such as MPC Kinetic in Australia.

The company's partnership with the IUOE, renewed through 2026, highlights a collaborative approach to workforce development rather than replacement. The acquisition of Roin Technologies in 2023 further broadened Built's capabilities into concrete automation. With US$112 million in funding from prominent venture capital firms and notable advisors including former GE CEO Jeff Immelt, Built Robotics has positioned itself as a key player in the automation of construction and utility-scale solar projects.

Did You Know?

• Built Robotics was founded by Noah Ready-Campbell, a former Google product manager who previously founded the startup Twice.
• The Exosystem can be turned off, allowing the heavy equipment to be manually operated by a person inside the cab.
• In March 2020, the International Union of Operating Engineers announced a formal partnership with Built Robotics to train its members on the automation platform.

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