San Francisco-based Built Robotics announced the acquisition of Roin Technologies on Jan. 24, paving the way for the company’s expansion beyond excavation into other areas primed for automation on jobsites. 

Built Robotics is the creator of the Exosystem, an aftermarket add-on package of hardware and software that turns traditional excavators into autonomous robots capable of digging trenches on their own. The company claims on its website that installation only takes a few hours and that the operator can easily switch to manual from robotic operation.

San Francisco-based Roin Technologies created the first automated concrete power trowel, according to the release, which the company claims can do the work of six people. 

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Built Robotics, founded in 2016, has raised $112 million to date, with $64 million in fresh funds coming last April. 

The technologies underlying Roin's automated power trowel and Shotcrete robot will be integrated into Built Robotic's software and hardware systems. Engineering efforts will be focused on Built Robotic's existing and future product lines, according to the release.

"With Roin joining Built, the combined teams will continue developing new autonomous construction applications, and customers can expect to see robotic applications expanding beyond earthmoving,” said Noah Ready-Campbell, CEO of Built Robotics, in the release. 

Roin CEO Jim Delaney will join Built’s engineering team.

Roin was backed by prolific Silicon Valley-based tech startup incubator Y Combinator.  

Business incubators have shown a lot of promise for technology companies, and particularly contech firms, looking to expand into new areas. Incubators like Suffolk’s BOOST program and Vinci Group’s Leonard innovation platform provide funding and expertise for earlier stage contech firms to further their development.