Bedrock Robotics: 10 Key Things You Must Know

Overview

Bedrock Robotics is an innovative technology company specializing in autonomous systems for the construction industry. Founded in 2024 by former leaders of Waymo, including CTO Kevin Peterson, Bedrock Robotics is pioneering the automation of heavy machinery such as excavators through advanced autonomy kits that retrofit existing equipment. This approach aims to revolutionize construction by accelerating project timelines, enhancing safety, and addressing labor shortages. With significant backing—including $80 million in funding—the company is positioned to lead a transformation of the $13 trillion global construction market. The developments at Bedrock Robotics herald a future where construction machines work with unprecedented precision and efficiency, reshaping how infrastructure, housing, and industrial facilities are built.

1. Origins and Founding Team

Bedrock Robotics was founded in 2024 by a team of engineers and executives with deep experience in autonomous vehicle technology, notably from Waymo, the leader in self-driving cars. The founding group includes Kevin Peterson (CTO), Boris Sofman (CEO), Ajay Gummalla, and Tom Eliaz, all of whom bring expertise in robotics, AI, and systems engineering. Their background in developing the first fully autonomous vehicles on public roads provides the technical foundation for Bedrock’s mission to bring autonomy to construction machinery. This pedigree is vital to navigating the complexities of real-world, heavy equipment automation.

2. Autonomous Construction Technology

Bedrock Robotics develops a self-driving “kit” that can be retrofitted onto existing heavy equipment like excavators, bulldozers, and loaders. Unlike companies that build specialized new machines, Bedrock’s approach upgrades current fleets with sensors, compute units, and advanced AI software. This enables machines to perform complex excavation and earth-moving tasks autonomously, working safely and precisely with minimal human intervention. Their systems utilize survey-grade GPS, lidar, cameras, and machine learning models to interpret dynamic jobsite conditions and execute project goals continuously.

3. Addressing Construction’s Labor Shortage

One of the construction industry’s biggest challenges is a chronic shortage of skilled labor, with nearly 500,000 open positions in the US alone and a significant portion of the workforce approaching retirement age. Bedrock Robotics’ autonomy technology targets this labor gap by enabling equipment to operate with reduced human drivers, effectively extending operational hours and decreasing dependency on scarce skilled operators. This helps meet escalating demand in infrastructure, housing, and industrial development sectors.

4. Real-World Testing and Partnerships

Since emerging from stealth in early 2025, Bedrock Robotics has deployed its technology on live test sites in states such as Arizona, Texas, Arkansas, and California. They have formed early partnerships with forward-thinking construction firms including Sundt Construction and Zachry Construction Corporation. These partnerships allow Bedrock to validate system performance in real jobsite environments, gathering data to improve safety, reliability, and productivity before broader commercial rollout.

5. Funding and Market Opportunity

Bedrock Robotics has secured $80 million in Seed and Series A funding from investors including Eclipse Venture Capital, 8VC, Two Sigma Ventures, and NVIDIA’s investment arm NVentures. The construction equipment market represents a massive $13 trillion global industry, indicating enormous potential for disruption through automation. By enhancing existing equipment rather than replacing it, Bedrock aims to capture significant market share quickly with scalable, cost-effective solutions.

6. Safety and Productivity Benefits

Automation at Bedrock Robotics not only speeds up construction timelines but also enhances safety onsite. Autonomous machinery reduces human exposure to hazardous environments and physically demanding tasks, leading to fewer accidents and lower insurance costs. Additionally, the precision of autonomous vehicles minimizes costly rework and defects, helping contractors deliver projects on time and within budget.

7. Technology Stack and Engineering Focus

Bedrock Robotics combines multiple advanced technologies, including deep learning for perception and behavior modeling, sensor fusion, and robust control systems implemented in languages such as C++ and Rust. The company pursues cutting-edge machine learning models for real-time decision making, leveraging edge computing to process sensor data with minimal latency. Their software stack supports integrations across diverse equipment types, enabling a generalizable autonomy platform.

8. Industry Context and Competition

While other companies and OEMs, like Caterpillar and John Deere, have been developing remote operation and automation for earthmoving machinery, Bedrock Robotics differentiates itself by offering retrofit kits with comprehensive autonomy software capable of general-purpose construction tasks. Founded by autonomous vehicle veterans, Bedrock focuses heavily on AI-driven adaptability to ever-changing jobsite conditions, aiming to accelerate the adoption curve compared to legacy players.

9. Challenges in Automated Construction

Despite progress, automating construction machinery faces significant challenges, including dealing with complex and unpredictable terrain, weather conditions, and regulatory restrictions. Unlike autonomous cars operating on predictable roads, construction sites are highly variable. Additionally, political factors, safety standards, and unionization dynamics can slow the adoption of robotics. However, Bedrock’s strategy of upgrading existing equipment and working closely with industry partners helps mitigate some of these hurdles.

10. Future Outlook and Impact

Bedrock Robotics envisions a future where autonomous construction machines operate continuously, drastically compressing project schedules and enabling the scale of infrastructure needed for a modern economy. Their work not only addresses labor shortages but also augments human capabilities, potentially reshaping how we build homes, factories, data centers, and energy infrastructure. With their ongoing development and expanding field tests, Bedrock is poised to accelerate the next industrial revolution by making construction safer, faster, and more efficient.

Conclusion

Bedrock Robotics represents a pioneering force in the burgeoning field of construction automation. By leveraging advanced AI and autonomy, and applying it to existing heavy equipment, Bedrock tackles critical bottlenecks in construction productivity and labor supply. Their origins in autonomous vehicle technology, combined with a growing roster of partnerships and substantial funding, position them to lead a transformative wave in how our built environment takes shape. As the demand for faster, safer, and more cost-effective construction intensifies globally, Bedrock Robotics holds promise as a key enabler of the infrastructure boom of the future. Will autonomous machines come to dominate construction sites as they have the roads? Bedrock Robotics' journey will be a bellwether.