A team of engineers from self-driving #robotaxi leader Waymo is eyeing another huge market to automate: #construction equipment. Last year, Boris Sofman, previously a star engineer at robotaxi leader Waymo where he worked to automate trucks, teamed up with former #Waymo colleagues Ajay Gummalla and Kevin Peterson, along with engineer Tom Eliaz, to start Bedrock Robotics. They’re starting with #excavators, the ubiquitous machines that do the heavy digging. The San Francisco-based startup isn’t designing its own line of construction machinery, but instead plans to modify existing equipment with cameras, lidar, computers and #AI software that enables them to work around the clock–including in blistering heat when human workers would need regular breaks. #Bedrock, which has also brought on former Uber Freight EVP Laurent Hautefeuille as COO, is emerging from stealth with $80 million in new funding and plans to begin commercial operations in 2026. Keep reading at the link in our bio. (...