Opportunities challenges and roadmap for humanoid robots in construction.

Thanakon Uthai, Hengxu You, Mengjun Wang, Kaleb Smith, Everett Spackman, Zoe Ryan, Shuai Li, Jing Du

Abstract readReview

In one paragraph

Review in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

0citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Thanakon UthaiInformatics, Cobots and Intelligent Construction (ICIC) Lab, Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering, University of Florida, 1949 Stadium Road 360 Weil Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.

Hengxu YouInformatics, Cobots and Intelligent Construction (ICIC) Lab, Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering, University of Florida, 1949 Stadium Road 360 Weil Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.

Mengjun WangDepartment of Civil and Coastal Engineering, University of Florida, 1949 Stadium Road 513 Weil Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.

Kaleb SmithNVIDIA, 2788 San Tomas Expy, Santa Clara, CA, 95051, USA.

Everett SpackmanNVIDIA, 2788 San Tomas Expy, Santa Clara, CA, 95051, USA.

Zoe RyanNVIDIA, 2788 San Tomas Expy, Santa Clara, CA, 95051, USA.

Shuai LiDepartment of Civil and Coastal Engineering, University of Florida, 1949 Stadium Road 513 Weil Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.

Jing DuInformatics, Cobots and Intelligent Construction (ICIC) Lab, Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering, University of Florida, 1949 Stadium Road 360 Weil Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA. eric.du@essie.ufl.edu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The construction industry faces pressing challenges, including persistent labor shortages, hazardous working conditions, and stagnating productivity gains. Simultaneously, the field of humanoid robotics has matured from early experimental platforms to advanced systems capable of dynamic locomotion, dexterous manipulation, and partial autonomy. This paper examines how humanoid robots, with anthropomorphic designs suited to human-centric environments, might revolutionize future construction processes. The unique challenges of construction humanoid robots are outlined such as perceptual robustness, adaptive locomotion, human-level dexterity, continual learning, and human-robot collaboration. In addition, non-technical perspectives that could affect the adoption and implementation of humanoid robots in construction are discussed such as workforce implications, safety and ethical considerations. These challenges may emerge when translating humanoid capabilities to active construction sites due to unstructured and dynamic settings, unpredictable task sequences, frequent interactions with human trades, and nascent regulatory frameworks. Drawing on a breadth of literature, this paper presents future milestones from near-term technical advances and to longer-term visions of scalable, fully integrated robotic ecosystems. This paper uniquely contributes a comprehensive roadmap for humanoid robot integration in construction, addressing both technical challenges like adaptive locomotion and ethical considerations such as workforce impacts. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, it aims to position humanoid robots as transformative assets for advancing safety, efficiency, and sustainability in the industry.

Indexed as

Construction IndustryRoboticsHumansConstructionFoundation modelsHumanoid roboticsImitation learningLoco-manipulationModel predictive controlWhole-body controlWhole-body tactile sensing

Identifiers

PMID41331009

DOI10.1038/s41598-025-30252-6

PMCPMC12783740

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata

LicenceCC BY-NC-ND

Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.