Exyn and Trimble Outfit Spot Robot With Scanning, Mapping Systems for Construction Industry

Trimble and Exyn Technologies are working together on a proof-of-concept system using Boston Dynamic’s Spot for applications in the construction industry. Exyn’s 3D mapping system, ExynPak, and Trimble’s 3D scanning system, the Trimble X7, have been installed on the four-legged robot.

The companies said earlier this week the combo will enable fully autonomous missions inside complex and dynamic construction environments, which can result in consistent and precise reality capture for production and quality control workflows.

Autonomous robots powered by ExynAI, can sense and avoid obstacles, dynamically adapting to the ever-changing complexity of construction environments, according to Philadelphia-based Exyn Technologies. To ensure the utmost safety and efficiency, the ExynPak mounts and integrates with a robot, supporting level 4 of autonomous exploration missions without requiring the robot to “learn” about its environment beforehand, Exyn said. 

The Trimble X7 provides high-speed, high-accuracy 3D laser scanning to capture the state of the environment. The captured data can be uploaded to the Trimble Connect collaboration platform and shared with project stakeholders for further analysis, including a comparison to Building Information Models (BIM) and previous scans to monitor quality and progress, said Trimble, which is based in Sunnyvale, Calif.

Combo enables customers to create fully detailed 3D maps

A surveyor defines a 3D volume for a mission and the integrated robotic solution handles the complexities of self-navigation without needing a map, GPS, or wireless infrastructure. The result is a detailed and accurate map collected with minimal human intervention and risk, the companies claimed.

“The integration of autonomous surveying technology into a construction workflow has groundbreaking potential,” said Aviad Almagor, vice president of technology innovation at Trimble. “It can improve operational efficiency and transparency throughout the build lifecycle while also transforming worker safety for potentially hazardous data collection.”

“Industry has been waiting for reliable and robust autonomous technology to transform difficult and dangerous activities. Exyn's technology is helping to enable a new front in human-robot collaboration. By working with preeminent leaders such as Trimble, we aim to create adaptable, state-of-the-art systems to tackle the complexities across construction and industrial environments,” said Nader Elm, CEO of Exyn Technologies.

An upcoming demo in Las Vegas

Exyn Technologies claims it is pioneering multi-platform robotic autonomy for complex, GPS-denied environments. Exyn’s employees work in autonomous systems, robotics, and industrial engineering. The company spun out of the University of Pennsylvania's GRASP Laboratory.

Trimble is an industrial technology company that makes positioning, modeling, connectivity, and data analytics products.  It said its aim is to connect the digital and physical worlds to improve productivity, quality, safety, transparency, and sustainability.

Exyn and Trimble will be demonstrating this technology at the Trimble Dimensions+ Conference Nov. 7-9 in Las Vegas.