Renovate Robotics on Tuesday unveiled its latest rooftop robot, the Rufus V1. The system is a refinement of the prototypes the New York-based firm showcased earlier this year. It automates one of construction’s most common — and dangerous — tasks. The startup has clearly come a long way since we first covered it in May 2023, when its robot was made up of several DeWalt nail guns mounted to a gantry system.
Renovate says this model is faster and more accurate than its predecessor, despite being roughly half its weight. The arm’s modular nature, meanwhile, means different end effectors can be attached for different tasks. Presently, Rufus can only install shingles. Future versions will be able to rip them out and perform solar installs, too.