From Construction Sites to Smart Factories

For decades, industrial automation has transformed factories, warehouses, and manufacturing lines - while lines

while construction and large-scale installation work lagged behind. Today, that gap is rapidly closing. At the center of this shift is Dusty Robotics.

Led by CEO and co-founder Tessa Lau, Dusty Robotics is redefining how physical environments are built by bringing factory-grade precision into construction sites, manufacturing plants, EV battery facilities, semiconductor fabs, and robotic fulfillment centers. What began as a solution for construction layout has evolved into a critical enabling technology for industrial automation - one that ensures accuracy, speed, and alignment before a single machine is installed.

With a background spanning IBM Research, Willow Garage, and two robotics startups, Lau understands both sides of the equation: cutting-edge robotics and real-world deployment at scale. In this exclusive interview with UNI Network Group, she explains why accurate layout is the missing link in industrial automation, how Dusty is becoming the connective tissue between digital design and physical execution, and why the future of manufacturing and construction depends on a single, shared source of truth.

Q1. Thank you, Tessa, for joining UNI Network Group. To begin, could you tell our audience a little about yourself and Dusty Robotics?

Ans. My name is Tessa Lau, and I’m the CEO and co‑founder of Dusty Robotics. My background is in AI and robotics. I started my career with a PhD in AI and spent the first half of my professional life at IBM Research, where I worked on AI for business process automation.

After that, I moved into robotics and joined Willow Garage as a researcher. There, my focus was on how regular people—not just experts—could program robots to do useful things. Out of that experience, I co‑founded my first startup, Savioke, where I was CTO and, as I like to say, the “chief robot whisperer.” We built robots that delivered room service in hotels, and I personally helped build the first 70 robots.

After five years, I decided it was time for a new challenge. That’s when I started Dusty Robotics, with the goal of figuring out how to put robots on every construction site in the world.

Q2. Becoming a founder is more than just switching roles. What motivated you to start your own companies, especially in robotics?

Ans .I’ve co‑founded two companies now, and the motivation has been different but connected. With my first company, it was about taking technology developed in a research lab and bringing it into the real world. At Willow Garage,

we had amazing robotics research, but it lived in papers—no one outside the lab could really touch it or benefit from it.

With Dusty, the motivation was bigger. I wanted to build a successful robotics business that could truly change the world. A lot of robotics companies build technology for technology’s sake. I wanted to move the needle in one of the largest industries on the planet—construction—and make robotics a standard practice in an industry that hasn’t changed much in decades.

Q3. UNI Network Group: What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced at Dusty Robotics?

Ans.One of our biggest challenges has been accuracy. The problem we chose to solve—printing layout marks on the ground for construction—requires extreme precision. Some of our customers need accuracy within a sixteenth of an inch or even a millimeter.

That level of precision is incredibly hard to achieve with a mobile robot. Over time, we’ve built what is now the most accurate and precise mobile robot in the world.

Q4. Where is Dusty Robotics currently deployed?

Ans.Right now, we’re deployed across North America, with robots operating in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Q5. UNI Network Many people fear that AI and robotics will take jobs, especially in construction. How do you address that mindset?

Ans. That concern comes up a lot, especially in industries that have done things the same way for generations. Our philosophy is very clear: we are not building replacements for human labor. We’re building power tools.

Dusty gives people superpowers. The layout crews who use our robots don’t have to crawl on the floor anymore. They’re standing up, operating advanced technology, learning new skills, and becoming more valuable to their companies. It’s better for their bodies, their careers, and their work environment. That’s why many of the people in the field become our biggest champions.

Q6. What role do robots play in promoting diversity, especially for women, in construction?

Ans. Robotics democratizes the workforce. Think about driving a car—it doesn’t matter how strong you are or how fast you can run. Everyone can go the same speed. Robots do the same thing for construction and manufacturing.

They allow anyone on a job site to perform at the same level, regardless of physical strength. That opens the door for more women to enter construction. One of my favorite Dusty operators is a 17‑year‑old woman who started as a carpenter’s apprentice. Now she’s a certified Dusty operator and one of the most important people on her job site.

Q7. What advice would you give to young people who want to enter robotics?

Ans. Experiment. Build things. Play with Legos, robotics kits, AI tools, or programs like FIRST Robotics. A robot is just a set of components working together—and curiosity is the most important skill.

Q8. How does someone operate a Dusty robot, and what does that role involve?

Ans. Traditionally, layout was done by the most experienced and expensive people on a job site, because mistakes are extremely costly. With Dusty, more people can do this work with the same quality.

Operators use an iPad‑based control system to run the robot. They coordinate with different trades on site, prepare the space, and then print the CAD information directly onto the floor. It’s faster, more accurate, and opens up the role to a wider range of workers.

Q9. How large is Dusty Robotics today?

Ans. We’re about 70 people right now. One thing I’m really proud of is that we have more women than men on our leadership team. Women are helping run this company.

Q10. Can you explain your products and pricing model?

Ans.Today, customers purchase a subscription to our field printing platform, which includes the robot, software, maintenance, and support. Our entry‑level plan starts at $5,000 per month, plus a small daily utilization fee on the days the robot is used.

We started with the Dusty FieldPrinter, a small robot that prints layout marks on the ground. On top of that, we built a software suite, including our portal, which allows customers to combine multiple trade layouts, resolve conflicts, and catch constructability issues before anything reaches the field.

Q11. How do you address the talent gap in robotics and construction technology?

Ans. We do this in two main ways. First, we partner with unions, many of which now offer Dusty certification programs with multiple levels of training.

Second, we have an online academy with video‑based training, which is especially popular with younger workers.

Q12. What is Dusty Robotics’ biggest focus for 2026?

Ans.Our focus is scale. We want a robot on every job site. In 2026, we’re moving from individual projects to deeper, enterprise‑wide relationships so our customers can standardize execution across all their projects.

Q13.Can you share a memorable success story?

Ans. One early challenge involved a grocery store project where our robot printed what looked like a curved wall. We were kicked off the site. After investigating, we discovered the real issue was Wi‑Fi signal interference. We redesigned the system to eliminate Wi‑Fi dependency, and today we’re known industry‑wide for our accuracy.

Another example came from industrial automation. We helped identify a coordinate system error that caused reinforced concrete to be poured in the wrong location—before any equipment was installed. That customer now uses Dusty on every one of their fulfillment centers.

Q14. What key lesson has shaped your journey as a founder?

Ans.People matter. Relationships inside the company, with customers, and with partners are what make a business successful. People don’t just buy our product—they become part of the movement we’re creating.

Q15.Finally, what is your long‑term vision for Dusty Robotics?

Ans.Our vision is what we call “one shared truth.” In construction, everyone often works from different, outdated information. We want everyone—designers, builders, and installers—to see the same, most up‑to‑date information at the same time.

By printing digital plans directly onto the floor, we align everyone around the same truth. That alignment creates efficiency, safety, and productivity—and ultimately helps build a better world.