Robot dog agreement for Trimble and Boston Dynamics

A robot dog agreement has been struck by Trimble and Boston Dynamics.
By MJ Woof October 28, 2020 Read time: 3 mins
A new partnership between Trimble and Boston Dynamics will see autonomous surveying technology being available for construction
Trimble and Boston Dynamics have joined forces for a strategic alliance that will see advanced autonomous robot technology being employed in construction. This new partnership will integrate a variety of construction data collection technologies with the Spot robot platform developed by Boston Dynamics.

This jointly-developed solution will utilise the mobility of the autonomous Spot robot with Trimble’s data collection sensors and field control software. The aim of the project is for the automation of repetitive tasks such as site scans, surveying and progress monitoring. The use of this innovative robot will boost safety and mobility as it can navigate dynamic and potentially unsafe environments. The agreement allows Trimble to sell and support the Spot robot with integrated scanning, total station and GNSS technologies for the construction market.

This solution will streamline operation of the robot and provide quality control for missions, enabling construction project managers to provide a clear picture of jobsite progress in real time. Trimble technologies integrated with the robot provide accurate and rapid data acquisition. In addition, the Trimble construction collaboration platforms provide a continuous flow of information between field and office.

Mortenson, a US builder, developer and engineering services provider headquartered in Minneapolis, is one of the first customers to leverage the competitive advantages of this new technology combination. Mortenson has a strong history of Lean innovation and project technology expertise. In this spirit of eliminating jobsite waste and increasing efficiency, the team has been piloting Spot robots with Trimble’s SPS986 GNSS solutions to autonomously navigate challenging exterior construction environments. An automated and repeatable approach to field data capture can provide Mortenson with real-time awareness of project status, helping to accelerate project delivery. Through Trimble’s Early Experience Program, contractors such as Mortenson have advanced access to this technology for the purposes of evaluating its suitability in actual construction projects.

“Robots will play a crucial role in automated construction workflows and can augment the human workforce by handling dirty, dull and dangerous tasks,” said Martin Holmgren, general manager, Building Field Solutions at Trimble. “Our experience with early adopters like Mortenson gave us visibility into the transformative potential of an integrated solution that seamlessly marries a world-class robot with construction-specific sensors and workflows.”

“We believe the combination of Trimble’s experience and industry leadership in construction technologies and Boston Dynamics’ Spot can transform the way the industry operates,” said Michael Perry, vice president of business development at Boston Dynamics. “The integrated solution will enable any jobsite leader to deploy Spot and Trimble technologies to get an accurate view of construction progress through real-time data collection. With a more comprehensive view of site activity, project managers can take proactive measures to ensure on-time, on-budget and safer project delivery.”

The integrated solution is expected to be available by the second quarter 2021 through Boston Dynamics, Trimble and select BuildingPoint and SITECH distribution partners in the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
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