Robotics at HITT: Powered by Curiosity, Driven by People

At HITT, we’ve always embraced construction technology that helps us build smarter, safer, and more efficiently. Today, robotics in construction are transforming how we deliver projects nationwide—from drones flying over excavation sites to four-legged robots walking through interiors. But make no mistake—robots aren’t here to replace humans. In fact, the more we integrate robotics into construction, the clearer it becomes: people are more essential than ever.

Building Smarter with Robotics
HITT’s Research & Development (R&D) team is pushing boundaries of what robotics in construction can achieve. At our new headquarters office jobsite—a ground-up, Class A base building project in the Washington, DC area—we’re piloting the use of both aerial drones and ground robotics to capture high-accuracy data that helps track progress and improve decision-making.

One of the tools at the center of this work is Spot, a four-legged robot outfitted with 360° cameras, laser scanners, and navigation sensors. Spot can autonomously walk jobsites to stream video, capture walkthroughs, create 3D laser scans, and even act as a virtual superintendent—giving HITT team members, clients, and partners the ability to check on progress from anywhere in the world.

The data Spot and other robotic tools capture is combined with BIM workflows for progress tracking, quality control, and to uncover insights that help our project teams make smarter decisions faster.

Why People Are Key to Robotics in Construction
What makes these robots effective isn’t just the tech; it’s the people behind them. From our R&D team to superintendents and project teams, human collaboration is essential. Robots may do many of the dull, dirty, dangerous, and difficult tasks, but humans bring the critical thinking, problem-solving, and intuition needed to make these tools truly impactful.

“For robots in construction, it’s not just about automating tasks—it’s about giving our teams actionable insights in real time,” said Rachel Gertler, Senior Robotics Associate. “That means catching mistakes before they snowball and keeping the site safer and running smoother every day.”

As robots become more autonomous and capable, the need for human-robot collaboration grows. As with any other complex tools or equipment, it takes skilled teams to develop, test, deploy, operate, and maintain robotics. It takes human intuition to understand and adjust tasking based on the dynamic needs of a jobsite—especially as conditions shift with weather delays, design changes, or coordination among trade partners. Robots are excellent at capturing data and identifying potential issues, but resolving those issues requires complex problem-solving and collaboration.

Why It Matters
Robots have the potential to be powerful tools that can help increase productivity on jobsites, but it still takes human tradecraft, experience, and situational awareness to make sure work is done safely and to the highest quality. At HITT, we see robotics as one way our teams are igniting progress—driven by our curiosity to explore smarter, more efficient ways to build while keeping people at the center of everything we do. As we continue exploring new ways to deploy robotics across our projects, we’re focused on building practical solutions that support our teams, improve efficiency, and shape a safer, more advanced future of construction.

Learn more about how HITT is igniting progress here.