Ramtin Attar is currently inside a nondescript warehouse located in an average-looking industrial area close to Edmonton’s airport. He is examining a group of robots that he believes could bring about a groundbreaking change in the construction sector.
As the CEO and co-founder of Promise Robotics, Attar is part of a small cohort of Canadian entities and researchers dedicated to advancing technology to assist homebuilders in catching up with innovations seen in other industries. In front of him, a collection of four robotic arms, reminiscent of those used in automobile manufacturing, are in the process of constructing the walls, floors, and roofs of houses.
These robotic arms, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), are capable of interpreting blueprints and autonomously making decisions regarding cuts, nailing pieces together, and drilling holes for wiring and plumbing. Attar explains that the arms have the ability to adapt on the go and determine the necessary tools and task sequences.
This innovative approach is a significant departure for an industry facing a shortage of skilled labor and a critical need for new housing amidst a affordability crisis in Canada. Daeho Kim, an assistant professor in civil engineering at the University of Toronto specializing in robotic construction, highlights the substantial gap between the construction sector and other industries leveraging AI and robotics.
While the construction industry has made strides in high-tech building materials and smart homes, many aspects of construction, beyond intricate finishing work, still rely heavily on manual labor. According to a recent report from consulting firm McKinsey & Company, the global architecture, engineering, and construction market—worth $12 trillion—has been slow to adopt digitization and innovation. Attar notes that Canada’s construction industry has been lagging and requires a significant boost in productivity to meet homebuilding goals set by government bodies.
The challenge lies in the disparity between the projected 3.87 million new homes required by 2031 and the current rate of construction in Canada. This issue is further compounded by housing policies, government regulations, infrastructure costs, and a persisting shortage of construction workers.
However, Attar remains optimistic, believing that technology can substantially decrease construction timelines for houses, apartments, and condominiums. Through the development of AI for construction tasks previously reserved for humans, Promise Robotics has revolutionized the industry by programming off-the-shelf robotic arms with AI skills for construction purposes.
Since its inception in 2019 and subsequent funding of $25 million, Promise Robotics has created a foundational AI system capable of analyzing building plans and determining the most efficient methods for constructing various parts of residential and multi-unit buildings. Unlike large machines in prefabricated home factories, these robotic arms are versatile, capable of producing different types of walls, floors, and roofs.
Attar’s partner, Reza Nasseri, brings decades of construction experience to the table, having founded one of Canada’s largest prefab homebuilding companies. In contrast to multimillion-dollar factories like ACQBuilt, Promise Robotics offers a highly portable system that can be set up in warehouse-like spaces at a fraction of the cost, garnering significant interest from homebuilders.
By streamlining the construction process, Promise Robotics claims it can reduce the time required to build a house to approximately five months, half the typical duration according to government data. Attar reveals that the company has already secured a builder in Edmonton as a client and attracted over 20 others from across Canada in 2024, intrigued by the potential to double production by setting up temporary facilities with robotic arms near their developments.
Kevin Lee, CEO of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association, acknowledges the financial constraints that hinder most construction companies from developing their own technology. However, he emphasizes the potential of cost-effective robotics to drive innovation in the industry.
While Promise Robotics focuses on AI-driven robotics in a factory setting, Horizon Legacy, another company, has introduced on-site robotic technology. Horizon Legacy’s Val 2.0, a portable 3D printing robotic arm, is designed to pour a specialized concrete mix for house walls. The company’s CEO, Nhung Nguyen, highlights the productivity gains achieved by Val 2.0, such as enhanced insulation and reduced labor requirements compared to traditional construction crews.
Nguyen explains that the robotic arm simplifies the labor-intensive aspects of construction, potentially attracting new entrants to the field. Both Promise Robotics and Horizon Legacy acknowledge the pivotal role of robotics in addressing the construction labor shortage while emphasizing opportunities for workers to upskill and transition into roles overseeing robotic operations.
In addition to robotic arms, various other robotic technologies are making their way into the construction sector. For instance, at the University of British Columbia’s Smart Structures Lab, civil engineering professor Tony Yang is exploring the conversion of conventional construction vehicles into autonomous robots equipped with advanced sensors and AI capabilities.
Yang’s research has already seen successful tests in collaboration with Bird Construction in Richmond, B.C., where AI-guided cranes and forklifts autonomously handle heavy materials. Yang envisions this technology as the next evolution in construction robotics, akin to self-driving
