A Robot Designed to Enhance Structural Strength Leaves its Imprint in Wet Concrete

When we imagine freshly poured concrete, we usually think of leaving it to dry smoothly. However, a new robot, the Conit Runner, rolls over wet concrete, carving grooves to strengthen structures while reducing costs.

Deep layers of wet concrete can crack as they dry, so concrete is typically poured in thin layers. To improve shear strength—resistance to sliding between layers—steel rebar is often added vertically throughout the structure. While rebar enhances strength, it adds cost and weight. Alternatively, workers sometimes manually groove wet layers to improve bonding, reducing rebar needs.

Revolutionizing Concrete Grooving with Robotics

The Conit Runner automates this process, cutting rows of grooves into wet concrete at speeds of up to 10 mph (16 km/h). Equipped with LiDAR, cameras, and sensors, it navigates obstacles and ensures concrete is firm enough to support its 22-lb (10-kg) weight while still soft enough for grooving. Developed by Itone and Posco E&C, the robot reportedly reduces rebar use by 30% and speeds up construction by 85%, matching the efficiency of eight workers.

Though not yet widely available, the Conit Runner shows promise for faster, more cost-effective concrete construction.

Developed collaboratively by Korean robotics company Itone and construction firm Posco E&C, the device autonomously traverses wet concrete surfaces at speeds of up to 10 mph (16 km/h), carving grooves with its two 15-inch (381-mm) wheels along the way.

Equipped with LiDAR, ultrasound sensors, cameras, and an inertial measurement unit (IMU), the robot efficiently navigates these surfaces and avoids obstacles like rows of rebar. It can also assess the concrete’s hardness, ensuring it is solid enough to support the robot’s 10-kg (22-lb) weight while remaining soft enough to create grooves at least 0.24 inches (6 mm) deep.

Itone claims that the Conit Runner can reduce the need for rebar reinforcement by up to 30% while speeding up construction by as much as 85%, delivering productivity equivalent to that of eight human workers.

As of now, there’s no information on when the robot will see widespread adoption, but you can watch it in action in the video below.

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