The Robot Report

  • Home
  • News
  • Technologies
    • Batteries / Power Supplies
    • Cameras / Imaging / Vision
    • Controllers
    • End Effectors
    • Microprocessors / SoCs
    • Motion Control
    • Sensors
    • Soft Robotics
    • Software / Simulation
  • Development
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Human Robot Interaction / Haptics
    • Mobility / Navigation
    • Research
  • Robots
    • AGVs
    • AMRs
    • Consumer
    • Collaborative Robots
    • Drones
    • Humanoids
    • Industrial
    • Self-Driving Vehicles
    • Unmanned Maritime Systems
  • Business
    • Financial
      • Investments
      • Mergers & Acquisitions
      • Earnings
    • Markets
      • Agriculture
      • Healthcare
      • Logistics
      • Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Security
    • RBR50
      • RBR50 Winners 2025
      • RBR50 Winners 2024
      • RBR50 Winners 2023
      • RBR50 Winners 2022
      • RBR50 Winners 2021
  • Resources
    • Automated Warehouse Research Reports
    • Digital Issues
    • eBooks
    • Publications
      • Automated Warehouse
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
    • Search Robotics Database
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
  • Events
    • RoboBusiness
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • DeviceTalks
    • R&D 100
    • Robotics Weeks
  • Podcast
    • Episodes
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Built Robotics develops autonomous solar piling robot

By Brianna Wessling | March 14, 2023

Built Robotics, a San Francisco-based developer of construction robots, announced the RPD 35, a fully autonomous solar piling robot.

Built’s system combines all steps of the piling process, from surveying to pile distribution, driving and inspection, into one package that hits the most stringent tolerances on the market. Solar piles are generally steel H beams that are 12-16 feet in length and up to 200 lb. Piling is a complex activity, and most solar farms require tens of thousands of piles to be installed.

Each pile much be driven into the ground upwards of eight feet deep and positioned at an accuracy of less than an inch. These piles form the structural foundations of solar arrays and are used in every utility-scale solar project.

With the RPD 35, Built said a two-person crew can install over 300 piles per day, all while meeting slope tolerances expected from the market. This is achieved through Built’s software working in tandem with a custom pile cartridge system and advanced sensors like RTK GPS.

“Solar piling is a tough, repetitive job, one well suited to automation,” said Noah Ready-Campbell, founder and CEO of Built Robotics. “Our piling robots will dramatically improve the efficiency of workers on jobsites, which is critical in the chronically tight construction labor market. And just as importantly, they will take people out of harm’s way, reducing noise exposure, strain, struck-by and pinch hazards.”

Since Built’s first deployment in 2018, the company’s robots have helpt to install over 2 GW of solar capacity across the country, enough energy to power over 400,000 homes.

Sarcos Technology and Robotics Corporation last week completed the final validation of its Outdoor Autonomous Manipulation of Photovoltaic Panels (O-AMPP) project. The project aims to streamline the process of solar field construction into one robotic system that can deliver, detect, lift and place photovoltaic modules in the field.

Earlier this year, Built acquired Roin Technologies, a three-year-old engineering company that designed and built robotic concrete finishing systems. These included a shotcrete robot and a concrete trowling robot.

According to Ready-Campbell, the acquisition was mostly an acqui-hire that enabled Built to accelerate its current roadmap of automated construction equipment. Roin co-founder and CEO Jim Delaney joined the Built engineering team along with the other engineers from Roin.

The RPD 35 is the company’s second commercial system. Built’s first system, the Exosystem, is a robotic retrofit kit for excavators. Once installed, Exosystem turns almost any manually-operated excavator into an autonomous robot.

Built Robotics raised a $64 million Series C round in April 2022. In 2020, Built won an RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award for the company’s IUOE partnership.

About The Author

Brianna Wessling

Brianna Wessling is an Associate Editor, Robotics, WTWH Media. She joined WTWH Media in November 2021, after graduating from the University of Kansas with degrees in Journalism and English. She covers a wide range of robotics topics, but specializes in women in robotics, autonomous vehicles, and space robotics.

She can be reached at bwessling@wtwhmedia.com

Comments

  1. Fluix says

    March 27, 2023 at 7:18 am

    Autonomy is already having a profound impact on the construction ecosystem, although remote control continues to evolve. And the use of autonomous machines is a valuable tool for contractors who want to do work not only safer but also more cost-effectively.

    Reply

Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Articles Read More >

SS Innovations International's SSI Mantra 3.
SS Innovations completes its first cardiac surgery in the Americas with SSi Mantra
The opening ceremony for the Premier Innovation Hub near Pittsburgh.
Premier Automation launches innovation hub in Pennsylvania
farm-ng Amiga robot. It said its new software interface makes the Amiga modular robot even easier to use, with improved implement control and repeatable task automation.
farm-ng updates Amiga robot software for small, midsize farms
By integrating robotics, advanced motion control, and intelligent safety systems, this innovative solution delivered exceptional results for a time sensitive infrastructure project.
Welding project uses robotics to crunch 12 workhours into 45 minutes

RBR50 Innovation Awards

“rr
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for Robotics Professionals.
The Robot Report Listing Database

Latest Episode of The Robot Report Podcast

Automated Warehouse Research Reports

Sponsored Content

  • Sager Electronics and its partners, logos shown here, will exhibit at the 2025 Robotics Summit & Expo. Sager Electronics to exhibit at the Robotics Summit & Expo
  • The Shift in Robotics: How Visual Perception is Separating Winners from the Pack
  • An AutoStore automated storage and retrieval grid. Webinar to provide automated storage and retrieval adoption advice
  • Smaller, tougher devices for evolving demands
  • Modular motors and gearboxes make product development simple
The Robot Report
  • Automated Warehouse
  • RoboBusiness Event
  • Robotics Summit & Expo
  • About The Robot Report
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search The Robot Report

  • Home
  • News
  • Technologies
    • Batteries / Power Supplies
    • Cameras / Imaging / Vision
    • Controllers
    • End Effectors
    • Microprocessors / SoCs
    • Motion Control
    • Sensors
    • Soft Robotics
    • Software / Simulation
  • Development
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Human Robot Interaction / Haptics
    • Mobility / Navigation
    • Research
  • Robots
    • AGVs
    • AMRs
    • Consumer
    • Collaborative Robots
    • Drones
    • Humanoids
    • Industrial
    • Self-Driving Vehicles
    • Unmanned Maritime Systems
  • Business
    • Financial
      • Investments
      • Mergers & Acquisitions
      • Earnings
    • Markets
      • Agriculture
      • Healthcare
      • Logistics
      • Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Security
    • RBR50
      • RBR50 Winners 2025
      • RBR50 Winners 2024
      • RBR50 Winners 2023
      • RBR50 Winners 2022
      • RBR50 Winners 2021
  • Resources
    • Automated Warehouse Research Reports
    • Digital Issues
    • eBooks
    • Publications
      • Automated Warehouse
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
    • Search Robotics Database
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
  • Events
    • RoboBusiness
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • DeviceTalks
    • R&D 100
    • Robotics Weeks
  • Podcast
    • Episodes
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe