ABB Robotics is working with San Francisco’s Cosmic Buildings to build modular structures on site in Pacific Palisades as the Los Angeles neighbourhood recovers from January’s devastating wildfires.
The AI-enabled micro-factory can fabricate custom structural wall panels, precise to a millimetre, for assembly on site.
The process uses ABB’s IRB 6710 robots and RobotStudio digital twin software with Cosmic Robotic’s Workstation Cell and AI-driven BlM, a combination able to handle design, permitting, procurement, robotic fabrication and assembly.
The entire build process is simulated and optimised in a digital environment before deployment, while on site software and robotics work in tandem to detect possible issues and ensure quality.
Materials used are non-combustible, have solar and battery backup systems, plus greywater recycling and renewable water generation.
ABB claims the that AI-automation reduces build time by 70% and costs by 30% when compared to traditional construction. Structures built using the technique meet California’s wildfire and energy efficiency standards.
Cosmic Buildings’ mobile factory aims to build 100 homes by 2027. ABB said it hopes the process may be expanded for affordable housing or to meet labour shortages.
Cosmic Buildings founder Sasha Jokic said: “We’re not just building homes; we’re rebuilding the playbook. Our mobile micro-factory is fast enough for disaster recovery, efficient enough to drastically lower costs, and smart enough not to compromise on quality.
“By integrating robotic automation with AI reasoning and on-site deployment, Cosmic achieves construction speeds three times faster than traditional methods, completing projects in as little as three months.”
