Dirt Talk by BuildWitt Autonomous Earthmoving with Gaurav Kikani -- DT054
Feb 11, 2021
Gaurav Kikani, VP of Strategy at Built Robotics, shares insights into the exciting world of autonomous earthmoving. He explains how their technology automates heavy machinery for repetitive tasks in construction projects like pipelines and solar farms. Gaurav emphasizes that autonomy complements skilled labor rather than replaces it, enhancing productivity and safety on job sites. He recounts the company's journey, including early prototypes, real-world deployments, and the innovative culture at Built Robotics, where even the robots have unique names!
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Start Where The Environment Is Simple
- Built targets greenfield, large-scale infrastructure like pipelines, wind, solar and oil and gas where buried utilities are minimal.
- They focus on tasks with low judgment and high repetition, then expand capability over time.
Australian Trenching Deployment
- Gaurav shared robots deployed on Australian coal seam gas projects trenching long pipeline runs in remote areas.
- He described setting up the robot and letting it "rip all day" with only kangaroos around.
Run Machines Around The Clock
- Use autonomy to extend equipment utilization from an 8-hour shift to near 24/7 operation.
- Schedule robots to work nights so humans can perform complementary daytime tasks efficiently.
