The construction robotics landscape is littered with impressive technologies that workers never adopted. The challenge isn’t just building robots that work – it’s building robots that construction workers will actually use. The story of Renovate Robotics offers valuable insights into how to bridge this critical gap.
In this episode of BitBuilders, Dylan and Andy from Renovate Robotics share their journey in automating roofing installation, the challenges of hardware startups, and their unique approach to scaling a robotics business in construction.
Start with What Workers Already Know
When Renovate set out to build their roofing robot, they made a crucial decision: rather than reinventing every aspect of the roofing process, they would build upon practices that workers already understand and trust.
“We’ve tried to borrow as much from those intuitive areas that roofers already understand,” explains Andy Stulc, CEO of Renovate. Take their anchoring system, for instance. Instead of creating an entirely new way to secure their robot on the roof, they based it on the familiar safety anchor points that roofers already use to tie off their safety harnesses.
This philosophy extends to how materials are handled too. Their robot doesn’t require special packaging or preparation of shingles – it works with the same bundles and methods roofers have been using for years. By building on existing practices rather than replacing them entirely, they lower the barrier to adoption.
The Human Factor Can’t Be an Afterthought
One of the biggest pitfalls in construction robotics is designing systems that only roboticists can operate. As Renovate discovered, it’s easy to fall into this trap early on. “Right now we’re definitely in the mode where there’s only about one person in the world that can run our robot and it’s our controls engineer,” Stulc admits. But they’re actively working to change this.
Their solution? Hire a dedicated technician whose sole job will be operating the robot. This forces a crucial separation between developers and users, creating what Stulc calls a “developer-user relationship.” It’s a practical step toward making their technology more accessible to the average worker.
Real-World Deployment Reveals Hidden Challenges
The transition from lab testing to real-world deployment often reveals challenges that no amount of controlled testing can predict. When Renovate first took their robot to an actual job site, they discovered that seemingly simple tasks like unpacking and setting up equipment took far more time than expected.
But rather than viewing these as setbacks, they saw them as opportunities for improvement. By their second deployment, they had already cut setup time to a third of what it initially took. This rapid iteration based on real-world feedback is crucial for developing technology that truly serves its users.
The Environment Matters More Than You Think
Construction sites present unique challenges that can’t be fully replicated in a lab. For instance, Renovate discovered that their computer vision system, which worked perfectly in controlled conditions, struggled with the harsh shadows cast by trees on sunny days. These kinds of real-world complications can only be discovered and addressed through actual field deployment.
Design for Integration, Not Replacement
The most successful construction robots aren’t designed to replace workers entirely, but to integrate into existing workflows and make them more efficient. Renovate’s approach illustrates this well – their robot handles the repetitive task of shingle placement while workers handle setup, preparation, and other tasks that require human judgment and dexterity.
This collaborative approach not only makes adoption more palatable but also more practical. It recognizes that construction work involves countless edge cases and unexpected situations that robots aren’t yet equipped to handle.
The Business Model Affects Adoption
How a robot is brought to market can significantly impact its adoption. Renovate’s careful consideration of whether to lease their robots or operate as a subcontractor shows how the business model needs to align with user needs and capabilities.
Initially, they chose to operate as a subcontractor, allowing them to maintain direct control over their technology while it matures. This ensures that when problems arise – as they inevitably do with new technology – there are people on site who understand how to solve them.
Keys to Success
Based on Renovate’s experience, here are some key principles for building construction robots that workers will actually use:
○ Build on Existing Practices: Don’t reinvent processes that already work well – enhance them instead
○ Prioritize Usability: If only engineers can operate your robot, it’s not ready for real-world deployment.
○ Test in Real Conditions: Lab testing isn’t enough – get your technology onto actual job sites as early as possible.
○ Design for Integration: Focus on augmenting human capabilities rather than replacing workers entirely.
○ Start Simple: Begin with clearly defined, repetitive tasks where automation can provide immediate value.
Looking Ahead
The future of construction robotics won’t be determined solely by technological capabilities, but by how well these technologies can be integrated into existing workflows and adopted by actual workers. Success requires balancing innovation with practicality, and revolutionary technology with evolutionary adoption.
As the construction industry faces continuing challenges with labor shortages and productivity, robots that workers can actually use – not just robots that work – will be crucial to moving the industry forward. The lessons from companies like Renovate show that achieving this requires more than just good engineering – it requires a deep understanding of the human side of construction work.
