Construction robots

'''Construction robots''' are a subset of [[Industrial robot|industrial robots]] used for building and infrastructure construction at site.{{cite journal |last1=Parascho |first1=Stefana |title=Construction Robotics: From Automation to Collaboration |journal=Annual Review of Control, Robotics, and Autonomous Systems |date=3 May 2023 |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=183–204 |doi=10.1146/annurev-control-080122-090049 |s2cid=256781132 |language=en |issn=2573-5144 |doi-access=free }}S. Gonzalez DE, Garcia Estremera, Armada A service robot for construction industry Proceedings World Automation Congress (2004), pp. 441-446

'''Construction robots''' are a subset of [[Industrial robot|industrial robots]] used for building and infrastructure construction at site.{{cite journal |last1=Parascho |first1=Stefana |title=Construction Robotics: From Automation to Collaboration |journal=Annual Review of Control, Robotics, and Autonomous Systems |date=3 May 2023 |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=183–204 |doi=10.1146/annurev-control-080122-090049 |s2cid=256781132 |language=en |issn=2573-5144 |doi-access=free }}S. Gonzalez DE, Garcia Estremera, Armada A service robot for construction industry Proceedings World Automation Congress (2004), pp. 441-446

Despite construction businesses being traditionally slow to adopt new technologies, a 2021 survey said 55% of construction companies in the United States, Europe, and China used robots.{{Cite news |last=Thibault |first=Matthew |date=7 June 2022 |title=Rise of the machines? For construction, not yet |work=Construction Dive |url=https://www.constructiondive.com/news/rise-of-the-machines-for-construction-not-yet/625052/ |access-date=1 Feb 2023}}{{cite news |title=ABB Robotics advances construction industry automation to enable safer and sustainable building |url=https://new.abb.com/news/detail/78359/abb-robotics-advances-construction-industry-automation-to-enable-safer-and-sustainable-building#:~:text=In%20the%20survey%2C%20only%2055,and%2079%20percent%20in%20Manufacturing. |access-date=12 April 2026 |work=ABB Robotics press release |date=20 May 2021}} One of the main challenges in deploying robots on construction sites is the unstructured and variable nature of the environment, which differs fundamentally from controlled factory settings where industrial robots have traditionally operated./>

A 2021 survey said 55% of construction companies in the United States, Europe, and China used robots in some form.{{Cite news |last=Thibault |first=Matthew |date=7 June 2022 |title=Rise of the machines? For construction, not yet |work=Construction Dive |url=https://www.constructiondive.com/news/rise-of-the-machines-for-construction-not-yet/625052/ |access-date=1 Feb 2023}}{{cite news |title=ABB Robotics advances construction industry automation to enable safer and sustainable building |url=https://new.abb.com/news/detail/78359/abb-robotics-advances-construction-industry-automation-to-enable-safer-and-sustainable-building#:~:text=In%20the%20survey%2C%20only%2055,and%2079%20percent%20in%20Manufacturing. |access-date=12 April 2026 |work=ABB Robotics press release |date=20 May 2021}} This figure, however, reflects reported use across the construction value chain rather than widespread deployment of robots on active construction sites. Real-world adoption remains limited, with many robotic systems confined to pilot projects, controlled environments, or specific task applications rather than continuous on-site construction use.{{cite journal

|last1=Xu

|first1=Yifan

|last2=Cheung

|first2=Clara

|last3=Ng

|first3=Ming Shan

|last4=Kaltungo

|first4=Akilu Yunusa

|last5=Ishizawa

|first5=Tsukasa

|last6=Fujimoto

|first6=Kota

|title=Construction robotics: a systematic review of robot types, applications and human robot collaborations

|journal=Results in Engineering

|volume=30

|date=2026

|issn=2590-1230

|doi=10.1016/j.rineng.2026.110406

|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123026014404

}}

One of the main challenges in deploying robots on construction sites is the unstructured and variable nature of the environment, which differs fundamentally from controlled factory settings where industrial robots have traditionally operated.

Most robots currently deployed on job sites assist with physically demanding or repetitive tasks: excavating, lifting heavy materials, surveying, laying out markers, tying rebar, and installing [[drywall]]. More advanced systems are being developed for exterior finishing, steel placement, masonry, and reinforced concrete work.{{Cite journal |doi=10.1016/j.jobe.2020.101584 |issn=2352-7102 |volume=32 |article-number=101584 |last1=Gharbia |first1=Marwan |last2=Chang-Richards |first2=Alice |last3=Lu |first3=Yuqian |last4=Zhong |first4=Ray Y. |last5=Li |first5=Heng |title=Robotic technologies for on-site building construction: A systematic review |journal=Journal of Building Engineering |date=2020-11-01 |s2cid=225362095 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352710220313607 |url-access=subscription}}

Most robots currently deployed on job sites assist with physically demanding or repetitive tasks: excavating, lifting heavy materials, surveying, laying out markers, tying rebar, and installing [[drywall]]. More advanced systems are being developed for exterior finishing, steel placement, masonry, and reinforced concrete work.{{Cite journal |doi=10.1016/j.jobe.2020.101584 |issn=2352-7102 |volume=32 |article-number=101584 |last1=Gharbia |first1=Marwan |last2=Chang-Richards |first2=Alice |last3=Lu |first3=Yuqian |last4=Zhong |first4=Ray Y. |last5=Li |first5=Heng |title=Robotic technologies for on-site building construction: A systematic review |journal=Journal of Building Engineering |date=2020-11-01 |s2cid=225362095 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352710220313607 |url-access=subscription}} In practice, the most widely adopted applications on construction sites involve technologies such as aerial drones used for surveying, inspection, and progress monitoring, rather than autonomous systems performing core building tasks.{{cite web

|last=Nicols

|first=Alexis

|title=New data shows drone and robotics adoption has accelerated in construction

|url=https://underthehardhat.org/ai-and-technology/drone-and-robotics-adoption-construction/

|website=Under the Hard Hat

|date=2026-02-02

|language=en

|access-date=2026-04-19

}}

Some emerging systems are designed as '''multifunctional construction robots''', integrating multiple tools and capabilities within a single robotic platform to perform different stages of the construction process. These systems aim to improve operational flexibility and increase automation in complex construction environments.

Some emerging systems are designed as '''multifunctional construction robots''', integrating multiple tools and capabilities within a single robotic platform to perform different stages of the construction process. These systems aim to improve operational flexibility and increase automation in complex construction environments.

==Notable construction by robots==

==Notable construction by robots==

The distribution of robotic applications in construction varies across the project lifecycle. Most applications are concentrated in structural construction tasks such as masonry, concrete work, and assembly, while other phases, including planning, maintenance, and demolition, remain less represented.

===Automated building systems===

===Automated building systems===

* The Nisseki Yokohama Building (also known as Rail City Yokohama), a 30-storey office building in Yokohama, Japan, was constructed between 1994 and 1997 using the SMART system (Shimizu Manufacturing system by Advanced Robotics Technology), developed by [[Shimizu Corporation]] and a consortium of seven other Japanese companies. The system used automated horizontal hoists and vertical lifts to position steel beams, columns, [[precast concrete]] floor slabs, and prefabricated facade panels, with welding robots connecting structural elements under laser-guided precision. Each component was tracked by barcode to monitor progress and coordinate just-in-time delivery of materials.{{Cite web |title=Improvement of a Computer Integrated and Automated Construction System for High-Rise Building and its Application for RC (Rail City) Yokohama Building |url=http://www.iaarc.org/publications/proceedings_of_the_14th_isarc/improvement_of_a_computer_integrated_and_automated_construction_system_for_highrise_building_and_its_application_for_rc_rail_city_yokohama_building.html |publisher=International Association for Automation and Robotics in Construction |date=1997 |access-date=2026-03-22}}{{Cite journal |last=Cousineau |first=Leslie |title=Automated construction in Japan |journal=Proceedings of the IEEE |date=2003 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/239410052_Automated_construction_in_Japan}}

* The Nisseki Yokohama Building (also known as Rail City Yokohama), a 30-storey office building in Yokohama, Japan, was constructed between 1994 and 1997 using the SMART system (Shimizu Manufacturing system by Advanced Robotics Technology), developed by [[Shimizu Corporation]] and a consortium of seven other Japanese companies. The system used automated horizontal hoists and vertical lifts to position steel beams, columns, [[precast concrete]] floor slabs, and prefabricated facade panels, with welding robots connecting structural elements under laser-guided precision. Each component was tracked by barcode to monitor progress and coordinate just-in-time delivery of materials.{{Cite web |title=Improvement of a Computer Integrated and Automated Construction System for High-Rise Building and its Application for RC (Rail City) Yokohama Building |url=http://www.iaarc.org/publications/proceedings_of_the_14th_isarc/improvement_of_a_computer_integrated_and_automated_construction_system_for_highrise_building_and_its_application_for_rc_rail_city_yokohama_building.html |publisher=International Association for Automation and Robotics in Construction |date=1997 |access-date=2026-03-22}}{{Cite journal |last=Cousineau |first=Leslie |title=Automated construction in Japan |journal=Proceedings of the IEEE |date=2003 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/239410052_Automated_construction_in_Japan}}