Ex-Waymo engineers launch Bedrock Robotics to automate construction

State of construction automation today

• Commenters note heavy equipment is already highly mechanized; one operator often replaces dozens of laborers.
• OEMs (e.g., major yellow-iron brands) already offer guidance, remote operation and some autonomy, especially in mining and large infrastructure.
• Remote teleoperation is discussed as an easier “bridge” than full autonomy, but some argue operator cost is small vs. machine + maintenance, and clumsy teleop can be a net negative.

Economics and project bottlenecks

• For large earthmoving jobs, 24/7 operation is attractive, especially in remote or infrastructure projects where noise rules are looser.
• Others argue equipment hours are rarely the critical path; coordination between many trades dominates schedule risk.
• Skilled labor shortages (especially for high-quality trades) are repeatedly cited as a major cost driver and constraint on output.

Regulation, red tape, and politics

• Long, contentious debate on whether permitting/zoning/environmental review are a minor line item (3–10%) or effectively a major driver via delays, lawsuits, and project cancellations.
• Examples: California high-speed rail, stalled road and housing projects, CEQA/NEPA litigation, NIMBY-driven zoning fights.
• Some argue Europe is more “red tape–heavy” yet delivers megaprojects cheaper, implying US costs are more about politics, patronage, fragmented authority, and risk.
• Others defend regulation as a response to past disasters and corporate abuse, while conceding it can be weaponized to block building.

Labor, unions, and industry culture

• Construction is described as change-averse; unions and local power structures can force unnecessary human roles or preferred contractors.
• Counterpoints stress unions’ role in safety, training, and middle-class wages, and note that even non-union regions still face high costs.
• Many practitioners report real difficulty finding competent crews; “low-skill” trades like landscaping and pest control are disputed as actually nontrivial.

Bedrock’s strategy and competition

• Bedrock plans retrofit autonomy kits for existing machines, starting with earthmoving. Some compare this to comma.ai for heavy equipment.
• Skeptics highlight OEM control over warranties/interfaces and existing autonomy efforts, predicting partnerships or acquisition rather than pure retrofit sales.
• A founder in the thread emphasizes: focus on AI/software, close work with civil partners, initial collaboration with humans on-site, and eventual redesign of machines once cabs are unnecessary.

Technical and social outlook

• Closed, controlled sites may be easier than public roads, but construction has more degrees of freedom, varied machinery, mud, and edge cases.
• There’s enthusiasm for productivity gains (cheaper infrastructure, finer-grained structures, safer earthmoving), but also anxiety about job loss, weakened middle class, and whether displaced workers will be economically supported.