How Bedrock Robotics Runs Construction 24/7 with New Autonomous Heavy Equipment

We all have dreamt about flying in a car in the clouds, but our dreams were shattered once we got to know that it happens only in fiction. However, we do see a future with automation that can bring a giant robotic excavator into the real world. Bedrock Robotics is betting big on the future of automation, and we might now actually dream of flying cars again with artificial intelligence. With an over $80 million funding haul and a greatly stacked team with ex-Waymo engineers, Bedrock Robotics is making a huge impact in the artificial intelligence market all over the world. This startup has emerged to challenge one of the most traditional and demanding industries, and that is construction.

The startup is mainly aiming towards the heart of heavy machinery used in construction by upgrading it. Bedrock Robotics is not planning to reinvent the machinery, but rather it wants to work on the traditional ones and add a little bit of artificial intelligence to spice up things. The secret weapon of this startup related to construction is a tech suite of AI-powered software, LiDAR sensors, and a lot of cameras. This is designed to upgrade and match with the machinery that already exists in the construction sector by turning them into 24/7 autonomous workers. This process promises to reduce the workload of the workers at the construction site and also reduce the harm that they often face.

Even though this sounds like a fictional sci-fi movie, Bedrock Robotics is actually trying its best to turn it into reality, and they may have been successful. Even though the startup has not announced the revenues and investors’ names to the public, the future of this company seems bright to everyone. So, let’s dig deep into the details of the AI-powered construction tech play!

DNA of Waymo in Bedrock Robotics

One of the greatest advantages that Bedrock Robotics has is talent. The founders are all very talented and brilliant at what they do. The CEO of this startup is Boris Sofman, and he works alongside Ajay Gummalla, Tom Eliaz, and Kevin Peterson. The names carry the weight of being extremely intelligent and knowledgeable in the world of autonomous vehicles since their time at Waymo. Peterson brings to the table a unique edge as he was the head of Waymo Via and the founder of Marble Robot as well. Marble Robot is a company that is focused on autonomous equipment and was later acquired by Caterpillar, and Peterson brings his experience from there.

Even though Bedrock is not related to making heavy equipment, the startup is leveraging existing excavators by offering a tech package that can be easily installed. The best thing is that the installation is faster to deploy, more scalable, and potentially more affordable than building a machine from scratch. Bedrock has travelled down the road of automation through driverless taxis and driverless diggers. This startup believes that the lessons it has learnt from urban streets can be used in the gritty world of construction sites as well. It looks like Bedrock Robotics is very determined to change the trajectory of the construction industry in the future.

The Excavator Being the Backbone

The real MVP of Bedrock Robotics is the excavator, which is the most versatile and frequently used machine in the field. Bedrock made and developed its prototype and upgraded it by adding artificial intelligence. The system now has cameras, LiDAR, and artificial intelligence software as well. The traditional excavator didn’t have spatial intelligence, but the new and upgraded ones from Bedrock have spatial awareness. The excavator also has its own decision-making abilities, which makes Bedrock a great AI-powered platform to develop and upgrade the construction sector.

Many reports have claimed that the installation process is also very simple and a technician can make the entire excavator with the Bedrock’s system and work within a few hours. The easy-to-use and easy-to-make feature of Bedrock Robotics and its excavator has caught the eye of many people who want to see and acquire the newly upgraded excavators. One thing for sure is that it is not just about reducing operator fatigue or replacing the night shifts of the construction workers. The autonomous excavators by Bedrock are designed to make the machines work longer and consistently to avoid harsh conditions for humans.

Can the Robots Perform

The vision of Bedrock is far and bright, and we see a bright future for the AI startup. But as individuals, we all have certain questions for the excavators, like whether they will be able to perform like humans. CEO Sofman has claimed that the answer is YES, and the success in the robotaxi space is proof of it. He told Forbes that the state of technology is just being right, and they see it working on the hardest applications all over the world.

There are a lot of skeptics who do not believe that it can work and do not see the hype of autonomous machines in construction sites. But we see the vision and the mission of Bedrock Robotics, and we applaud it for the new and upgraded machinery at the sites.