Two unique construction prototypes in the construction world

With just one day to go until Christmas, we are highlighting two extraordinary machines that are pushing construction technology into new territory.

Unveiled at the 2025 International Astronautical Congress in Sydney, Charlotte is an autonomous multi-purpose construction robot developed by Crest Robotics and Earthbuilt Technology.

Rather than supporting maintenance tasks, Charlotte has been purpose-built to deliver low-cost, low-carbon housing solutions on Earth while also supporting the future development of lunar infrastructure — a striking leap in dual-environment engineering.

At its core, Charlotte combines advanced robotics with high-tech raw-material processing. When paired with Earthbuilt Technology’s extrusion and compaction systems, the robot becomes a fully autonomous building solution capable of assembling a standard 200-square-metre Australian home in a single day.

Importantly, it does so using natural, readily available on-site materials, enabling a continuous workflow from raw input to completed structure. The result is a zero-carbon build process designed to dramatically reduce emissions and supply-chain inefficiencies.

Its spider-like form and adaptable movement system make it suitable for both terrestrial building and future lunar environments, where traditional hydraulic machinery is impractical.

While still in its early deployment phase, Charlotte represents a potential turning point – a robot engineered not to automate single tasks, but to transform the entire construction process.

At the opposite end of the construction spectrum sits the SLJ900/32, an immense self-propelled bridge-building machine designed to transport and install precast spans without the need for multiple cranes or large ground crews.

Capable of lifting up to 580-tonnes, the “Iron Monster” uses integrated hydraulic supports and rail-mounted systems to carry segments over existing piers before lowering them into place with precision.

Its ability to automate span placement along long viaducts significantly reduces installation time and minimises the need for temporary structures, particularly in mountainous regions or dense urban corridors where access is restricted.

While Australia typically employs different bridge-building methods, the SLJ900/32 demonstrates what large-format mechanisation can achieve when infrastructure demands are high and terrain presents significant challenges.

Its scale and efficiency highlight a growing global shift towards equipment that doesn’t just streamline construction, but fundamentally re-imagines what teams can accomplish with fewer resources and safer workflows.

As Christmas arrives tomorrow, these two innovations – one designed for the moon and the other engineered for some of Earth’s most demanding bridge projects – highlight just how far robotics and high-automation systems have come in addressing labour, cost and sustainability challenges across global construction.

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