Episode 167: Automating construction - Jan Petrš

Robot Talk · 23 Oct 2026 · 26m · Episode 167

What this episode covers

Jan Petrš, co-founder of Déploya Robotics and a roboticist at EPFL, discusses novel robotic systems for the construction industry, specifically focusing on automated façade installation. He explains how his company is developing self-deploying, origami-inspired scaffolding that supports mobile robots equipped with specialized end-effectors for drilling and panel placement. Petrš also reflects on his academic background in tensegrity robotics and reconfigurable structures, highlighting the shift from theoretical concepts like shareable actuators to practical, scalable hardware solutions for automating labor-intensive construction tasks.

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