Why these ex-Waymo engineers decided to conquer construction with their new startup, Bedrock Robotics.

In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen and Patrick dive deep into the robotics revolution hitting construction with two industry-changing guests. 

Mo joins as co-host, bringing his Silicon Valley robotics expertise to unpack the biggest funding rounds and breakthroughs happening right now.

Key topics discussed:

- Why Dusty Robotics chose layout printing over flashier robot applications

- How ex-Waymo engineers are retrofitting excavators with self-driving tech

- The brutal truth about why most construction robotics startups failWhy accuracy is becoming the ultimate moat in construction robotics

- How labor shortages are forcing the industry to embrace automation

- The surprising lesson from building 60 robots in-house before outsourcing

- Why Field AI's $405 million funding signals a tipping point for the industry

- How construction sites are actually the perfect training ground for real-world robotics

Key quote: "Obviously everything's going to be built by robots in the future." - Tessa Lau, Dusty Robotics

Featuring Tessa Lau, founder of Dusty Robotics (the most respected robotics company in construction tech), and Kevin Peterson, CTO of Bedrock Robotics (fresh out of stealth with $80 million to automate heavy machinery). This episode reveals why construction might be the key to unlocking robotics everywhere else.

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Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:06 Introduction to Robotics in Construction

03:53 Current Trends and Sentiments in Robotics

06:45 Barriers to Adoption in Robotics

09:40 Autonomy vs. Collaboration in Robotics

12:40 Field AI and Its Impact on Construction

15:29 Dusty Robotics: Revolutionizing Job Sites

18:18 The Future of Construction with Robotics

21:04 Challenges in Construction Tech

23:53 The Importance of User Experience in Robotics

26:55 Lessons Learned from Robotics Development

29:36 The Role of Accuracy in Robotics

32:50 Proprietary Hardware vs. Off-the-Shelf Solutions

39:43 Prototyping and Time to Market

42:40 Manufacturing Challenges in Robotics

44:46 Adoption of Robotics in Construction

46:23 Pricing Strategies for Hardware

47:41 Building a Thriving SaaS Business

49:20 Transitioning from Self-Driving Cars to Construction

53:30 Unique Product Offerings in Construction Robotics

56:29 Collaboration Between Humans and Machines

59:24 Adapting to Change in Construction

01:11:09 The Future of Robotics in Construction