Xpanner releases X1 autonomy retrofit kit to bring physical AI to construction

Xpanner’s X1 deployed on a pile driver in Texas. | Source: Xpanner

Xpanner last week unveiled its flagship X1 Kit, a physical AI-based retrofit system for the construction industry. The company said the kit tackles challenges such as labor shortages, safety hazards, and operational inefficiencies by deploying a flexible, equipment-agnostic system that can be easily integrated into existing machinery.

“Our product roadmap over the past few years has led us to this pivotal moment,” stated Henri Lee, CEO of Xpanner. “The launch of X1 offers a practical, accessible form of physical AI that can drastically boost productivity by reducing costs and increasing efficiency by over 50% without necessitating new machinery investments. The industry is ready for this transformation, and Xpanner is proud to lead the way.”

X1 integrates artificial intelligence to transform existing construction machines across all brands and models into “software-defined machinery” (SDM), asserted Xpanner. This adaptability allows X1 to automate complex tasks, diminishing the dependency on highly skilled labor and fostering cost reductions and efficiency improvements, it said.

The company note that the system can be particularly effective for high-impact applications like pile driving in solar installations. It recently automated a piling process, slashing labor needs by 80% and operation time by 50%, Xpanner claimed.

X1 also continuously evolves on the jobsite, forming a foundational physical AI infrastructure capable of learning and improving over time, said the company, whose U.S. offices are in Santa Fe Springs, Calif.

Xpanner’s current customers had exclusive access to X1 and used the technology in forward deployments. The company said that it designed X1, which is now available, for immediate field readiness.

Users can deploy the kit across a range of construction applications on pile drivers. Xpanner has plans to extend its use to additional machinery.

X1 combines three Xpanner products

X1 incorporates three of Xpanner’s technologies: Mango, M2, and a proprietary software suite. Mango facilitates highly precise machine operations, while M2 processes environmental data to strategize and transmit real-time operational commands.

Accompanying these modules is a centralized platform that manages integration and user interactions. Xpanner said the platform enhances oversight and optimizes workflow through continuous remote updates.

“Our flagship product was designed to address the pressing automation needs at construction sites, focusing on tasks of high precision and complexity, which is why we chose pile driving,” said Lee. “Our technology is tailored specifically for the construction industry, streamlining site automation to make it both faster and more efficient.”

“At Xpanner, we take a comprehensive view of the entire project or jobsite. Instead of simply automating equipment, we hone in on automating distinct tasks, which makes our approach uniquely task-specific,” he added. “These individual task automations collectively contribute to automating the entire construction workflow.”

South Korea-based Xpanner was founded in 2020 by Lee, David Shin, and Ryan Park. The company expanded to the U.S. in 2023 with the launch of its Automation-Ready Package, which offers construction equipment like the Orteco Pile Driver and Develon Excavator. They are pre-configured with automation-enhancing features such as remote control, smart attachments (tilt rotator), and precision guidance systems.

Learn more about physical AI at RoboBusiness

This year’s RoboBusiness, which will be on Oct. 15 and 16 in Santa Clara, Calif., will feature the Physical AI Forum. This new track will feature talks about a range of topics, including conversations around safety and AI, simulation-to-reality reinforcement training, data curation, deploying AI-powered robots, and more.

Attendees can hear from experts from Dexterity, ABB Robotics, UC Berkeley, Roboto, GrayMatter Robotics, Diligent Robotics, and Dexman AI. In addition, the show will start with a keynote from Deepu Talla, the vice president of robotics at edge AI at NVIDIA, on how physical AI is ushering in a new era of robotics.

RoboBusiness is the premier event for developers and suppliers of commercial robots. The event is produced by WTWH Media, which also produces The Robot Report, Automated Warehouse, and the Robotics Summit & Expo.

This year’s conference will include more than 60 speakers, a track on humanoids, a startup workshop, the annual Pitchfire competition, and numerous networking opportunities. Over 100 exhibitors on the show floor will showcase their latest enabling technologies, products, and services to help solve your robotics development challenges.

Registration is now open for RoboBusiness 2025.

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