Jobsite robotics technology is a hot topic this year in construction, but especially in transportation construction.

The concept of automated construction may still seem futuristic to many, while others have signaled their willingness to dip their toes into the robotics pool. It's time, say technology developers, who believe that the job of building roads and bridges can and will become more efficient in terms of cost, labor and technology.

From drones to remote-controlled machines, the infrastructure sector is an open road when it comes to robotics, AI and all things automated.

The construction labor shortage is not going away, and construction workers the industry does count on are aging.

That's a big part of technology developers' rapid drive to introduce fresh technology such as automation and remote operation to contractors.

"For some, our long-term objective may still sound like science fiction," said Stefan Klumpp, CTO of HAMM AG, a Wirtgen Group company. "Eventually, aided by our developments, road construction of the future will become even more cost-effective, more efficient and better."

What Does the Future Hold for Road Builders?

TerraFirma photo

Robotics usage has risen sharply over the past year, said Audrey Lynch, director of research for construction intelligence company BuiltWorlds.

The company recently released is 2026 list of the top robotics companies in around the world. It found that this year's list shows the growing use of robotics "on and off the job site, including significant advancements in spatial AI."

"We've seen jobsite robotics usage rise sharply since 2025," said Lynch, adding that those piloting robotics rose three-fold.

She believes that signals a growing awareness and willingness to test the technology.

On the job site, robotics systems focused on layout, installation and finishing, inspection and monitoring and drilling were most sought-after.

Material transport, earthmoving and excavation and demolition made the list in the category of automated machinery and related solutions

Off site, 3D printing and additive manufacturing as well as prefabricated component manufacturing came in on BuildWorks Top 50 list.

It's no surprise that among the robotics companies spotlighted on this year's list was a clear increase in the incorporation of AI, according to Lynch.

"Advancements in spatial AI are increasing the applications of robotics throughout the global environment," Lynch said.

From jobsite robotics companies to autonomous equipment providers, the transition of robotics from potential tools to applicable technologies is represented.

And though the BuildWorks list is a global one, several North American companies are developing technology for the transportation construction sector:

Cyphra Autonomy builds autonomous robotic haulers that move materials across construction sites without training or setup time from field crews. According to BuildWorks, the startup rents its robots directly to contractors. Workers stay focused on skilled tasks instead of material movement.

Gecko Robotics combines wall-climbing inspection robots with its AI platform for continuous visibility into the structural health of critical infrastructure. Power plants, industrial facilities and bridges have been inspected using robotic data collection to track surface corrosion and degradation.

Toggle Robotics pre-assembles rebar cages off site with industrial robots, AI and a proprietary software platform. Delivering the cages to job sites, the solution has been deployed on transit infrastructure, bridge decks and renewable energy projects across the United States.

Other companies are rapidly changing their corporate models to develop robotic infrastructure streamlining technology. According to The Robot Report, construction management software provider Procore has acquired DroneDeploy, a robotics and visual intelligence platform developer. Designed for the built world, DroneDeploy's system has been used on more than three million job sites across more than 180 countries.

Ajei Gopal, Procore president and CEO, said the goal is to cross-sell the two products.

"For the longer term, adding DroneDeploy's technology into the Procore platform will enable us to accelerate our AI strategy," Gopal added.

The two companies said the combination of their technologies will enable users to see, understand and act within Procore.

In July, startup TerraFirma announced funding acquisitions to expand its robotics engineering, manufacturing, operations and construction teams.

The company also is continuing to develop a line of semi-autonomous heavy equipment, according to The Robot Report.

Public Works Entities Adopt Cutting Edge Technology

Daxbot photo

State and local governments are seeing the benefits of automation, AI and robotics technology for federal compliance requirements.

U.S. cities are leveraging robots to evaluate sidewalk conditions to improve communities' physical accessibilities and meet ADA standards.

Daxbot uses autonomous robots equipped with sensors to collect data such as sidewalk level changes.

In an article for Government Technology, Julia Edinger reported that these robots have been deployed in cities across the United States.

"These assessments by the robots help us identify all the deficiencies as it relates to the accessibility standards," said Errick Thompson of Burleson, Texas.

The city did not replace the human element of the work, Thompson emphasized in speaking with Government Technology.

Hands-on training was provided for staff to do these same assessments to support the verification process and other evaluation needs, reported Edinger.

Daxbot's robots can weigh the different types of sidewalk defects differently so government users can prioritize investments.

Caltrans is using robotics technology to mitigate the need for human inspectors to enter risky confined spaces.

The Sacremento Bee reported that "Spot," a headless, robotic dog produced by Boston Dynamics, is being sent into these spaces based on need.

"It's not a tool that we use every day, but when you need it, you really need it," said Aaron Chamberlin, a field systems coordinator of Caltrans.

The robots are equipped with sensors that quickly gather information that would take human maintenance workers longer to safely obtain.

Chamberlin said that Caltrans invested in several Spots as part of a broader effort to use robotic technologies to improve safety for workers. The agency also sought to more effectively maintain and repair the state's infrastructure.

Equipment Manufacturers at the Ready

Adobe Stock photo

Heavy machinery manufacturers have seen the writing on the wall. Wirtgen Group reported that HAMM AG is developing self-driving compaction machines.

The company said trials currently under way within the limits of a test track "are just one component" of the future-orientated "autonomous rollers" project.

Studies and trials at HAMM have demonstrated that such machines allow compaction quality and efficiency to be noticeably increased.

Systems for navigation, speed control, spacers, lane assistants, parking and steering aids are increasingly establishing themselves, said Wirtgen.

"These assistance systems form the basis of the self-driving trucks and cars that are being developed by industry pioneers" and are being track-tested.

"Rollers for asphalt and soil compaction will be among the first vehicles in which such systems will widely establish themselves," said Klumpp.

Klumpp said that's because they are closer to cars than many other types of machine.

Meanwhile, Caterpillar this year announced it has teamed with Nvidia to advance the integration of AI and automation into its construction machinery lines.

Semiconductor maker Nvidia is working with Cat to pilot an AI assistive system in the machinery manufacturer's mid-size mini-excavator.

Cat AI Assistant was built on a fleet of AI agents and can answer operator questions, allow access to resources, offer safety tips and schedule services.

Cat said one of the biggest benefits of integrating AI tech into these machines is the data that the systems collect and send back out.

"Our customers don't live in front of a laptop day in and day out; they live in the dirt," said Brandon Hootman, vice president of data and AI of Caterpillar.

"The ability to get the insights and take the action that they need while they're doing the work is very important to them," he told TechCrunch.

Caterpillar also is piloting digital twins of construction sites using Nvidia's Omniverse library of simulation resources.

Hootman said Caterpillar's machines send roughly 2,000 messages back to the company every second. This data will help them build these simulations.

Cat already has autonomous vehicles in the mining sector and Hootman said pilot programs are a great next step to bringing more automation to the portfolio.

A tech-enabled construction company focused on robotic earthworks and site operations, the company builds and uses robotics and software in the field.

Co-founder Noah Schochet said TerraFirma is building the robotic infrastructure stack by combining AI, remote command and retrofitted machinery.

This heavy machinery includes excavators, dozers, loaders, rollers and skid steers converted into robots that no longer require an operator in the cab.

"Instead, skilled operators orchestrate entire fleets from screens, using the same intuition and judgment they've built over years," said the Robot Report.

That intuition and judgment are now extended across multiple machines at once for a system that claims to make each operator up to 300 percent more effective.

It is designed to accelerate project execution, reduce costs and create jobs that are safer and higher paying than traditional equipment operation in the process.

"It is not about trying to fully automate construction equipment," Noah McGuinness, CTO, told the Robot Report.

"Driving real change requires building a whole ecosystem of technology that is directly informed by rapid iteration and lessons from the field," he added.