Rugged Robotics

Rugged Robotics, founded in 2018 in Houston, Texas, is a construction technology company that has developed an innovative solution for automating construction layout. The company's primary product, the Mark I robot, marks architectural and engineering designs directly onto concrete floors, enabling workers to accurately identify where to build. This automated process replaces the traditional manual layout method, which typically involves tape measures, chalk-lines, and surveying equipment. The robot can print more detailed information than a manual layout, reducing the time spent reviewing plans and leading to faster, more accurate installations.

The company offers its technology through a "layout as a service" model, where Rugged Robotics' team operates the robots on-site, working with various file types including .CAD and .RVT. This approach eliminates the need for construction companies to train their staff on new technology. The Mark I robot is designed to be self-contained, requiring minimal setup and allowing multiple robots to operate simultaneously. Rugged Robotics' solution aims to improve labor productivity, reduce errors, and significantly save time in the construction process. The company had completed its first full-scale pilot project, laying out multi-trade designs on six floors covering more than 240,000 square feet at a construction site in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Key customers and partnerships

Rugged Robotics has established partnerships with several multi-billion-dollar general contractors in the construction industry. Notable customers include Consigli Construction Company, Suffolk Construction, and Brasfield & Gorrie. The company has also collaborated with Structure Tone Southwest, implementing its robotic layout solution on projects. In August 2021, Rugged Robotics completed its first full-scale pilot project with Consigli at the Cambridge Crossing - Parcel H site, where they were building the new headquarters for Sanofi, a major life science employer in Massachusetts.