Bedrock Robotics, an autonomous vehicle technology startup founded by former Waymo and Segment engineers, recently announced its emergence into the competitive field of construction automation. Opensea has done so under the radar for a little more than a year. Now, it’s prepared to announce bold plans to extend the use of self-driving systems to construction sites, mining operations and other industrial landscapes.
Boris Sofman, who formerly led Waymo’s autonomous trucks program, was the co-founder of Bedrock Robotics. This company’s technology has the potential to transform how machines operate on construction sites. The Montana-based startup is in the midst of rolling out pilots of its technology in a handful of states. They’re particularly interested in improving productivity around Arkansas, Arizona, Texas and California.
To support its ambitious goals, Bedrock Robotics secured an impressive $80 million funding round from prominent investors Eclipse and 8VC. That massive investment will enable the company to continue scaling its autonomous solutions and grow its testing footprint.
Now, Bedrock Robotics is working with these five companies to develop and improve their technology in real-world, day-to-day conditions. These partners include Sundt Construction, Zachry Construction Corporation, Champion Site Prep Inc., and Capitol Aggregates Inc. These partnerships are essential as they allow the startup to gain valuable insights and adapt its systems to meet the needs of the construction industry.
Through predictive analytics, this smart model seeks to take tasks performed by humans out of the equation. In addition to ramping up safety for workers, it aims to improve efficiency on the construction jobs sites. Autonomous vehicles have never been more trendy, with companies large and small rushing into the space. Startups such as Pronto are focusing the use of self-driving technology to off-road settings.
“upgrading existing fleets with sensors, compute, and intelligence that understands project goals, adapts to changing conditions, and executes work around the clock” – [Boris Sofman – bedrockrobotics.com/news/introducing-bedrock-robotics].
Kirsten Korosec is a veteran journalist, with a focus on the future of transportation and autonomous vehicles. She wants to be clear, though, that Bedrock Robotics represents a significant breakthrough in this fast-evolving field. Companies are meeting the demand for new, more innovative approaches to construction. They’re interested in automation as a means to address labor shortages and increase productivity.
Kirsten Korosec, a journalist with extensive experience covering the future of transportation and autonomous vehicles, notes that Bedrock Robotics represents a significant development in this evolving sector. The demand for efficient construction practices has prompted numerous companies to explore how automation can alleviate labor shortages and increase productivity.
