Robots for the trades.
Remote-controlled demolition arms. Painting robots. An autonomous Bobcat that digs on its own. They're already on job sites, and almost nobody will tell you what they really cost. I'm working that out in public.
What they cost, straight.
Published figures, checked October 2026. Where a maker won't publish a price, it says so rather than guessing.
| Machine | Buy | Rent | Trades |
|---|---|---|---|
Remote demolition arm Brokk-class The most established rental category. Already available through equipment yards nationwide. | ~$140,000 replacement value | ~$12,500 / month | Demo, concrete, restoration |
Wall painting robot Okibo, PaintGo class The cheapest real entry point. Vendors claim payback in 12–18 months; that figure is theirs, not verified. | $10,000 – $50,000 | Quote-based | Painting, drywall finishing |
Autonomous excavator kit Built Robotics Exosystem A retrofit that bolts onto a machine you already own. Installs in hours and fully reverses. | Not published | Rentable from 3 months | Earthworks, site prep |
Rebar tying robot TyBot-class Strong on big pours. The weakest rental economics of the four. | $200,000 – $250,000 | $6,000 – $8,000 / month | Concrete, bridge and deck work |
Figures are maker-published or reported by rental listings and trade press. Confirm current pricing with the maker before you act on any of it.
Which machine would actually help you?
No pitch and nothing to buy. I'm mapping real demand by trade and by city, and what you tell me decides which machines I chase and which makers I go talk to.
- — If a machine exists for your job, I'll point you at who has one.
- — If enough people want the same thing, I'll go get it.
- — If it's a bad idea for your trade, I'll say so.
Own a machine? I'll bring you the work.
Machine owners
You have a demolition arm sitting idle between jobs. I have contractors searching for one. Revenue share, no exclusivity, no money changes hands until a rental does.
Makers and dealers
Your machine is excellent and nobody in this trade has heard of it. I rank construction companies #1 on Google in Los Angeles. Referral or co-marketing, your terms.
Capital partners
Once the demand data says which machine to put in the field, I'll want a partner on the asset side. Early conversations only — nothing is being offered here.
What contractors ask first.
Is a construction robot actually worth it?
It depends entirely on volume. A demolition arm earning $12,500 a month on a $140,000 machine is a different proposition from a $250,000 rebar robot renting at $6,000. The honest answer for most contractors is to rent one for a single job before anyone talks about buying.
Can I rent one instead of buying?
Yes, and for most trades that is the right first move. Demolition robots have the most mature rental market. Several makers now sell their machines as a service rather than outright, which shifts the risk off your balance sheet.
Will a robot replace my crew?
Not on current evidence. These machines do one repetitive, physically punishing task — breaking concrete, rolling paint, tying rebar — while a person still runs the job. The honest pitch is fewer injuries and less time on the worst task, not a smaller payroll.
What is this page?
A project in progress. I'm a Los Angeles marketer with a construction background, mapping which machines actually earn their keep for which trade. If you tell me what you'd want, you shape what gets covered — and who I go talk to.