Different Companies, Different Approaches
The autonomous construction equipment market includes several companies pursuing different strategies. Built Robotics and CHINOU represent two distinct approaches to construction autonomy.
This article provides a fair comparison to help buyers understand the differences.
Built Robotics: The Solar Pivot
Built Robotics gained early attention in the autonomous construction equipment space. However, their trajectory has evolved:
Original Vision
Built Robotics originally pursued general construction autonomy:
- Autonomous excavators for construction applications
- Focus on the US market
- Venture-backed startup approach
Exosystem Pivot
More recently, Built Robotics has pivoted significantly toward solar installation through their Exosystem product:
- Solar trenching focus: Autonomous trenchers for solar farm installation
- Renewable energy market: Targeting the growing solar installation sector
- Specialized application: Narrower use case than general construction
This pivot makes sense given the explosive growth in solar installation, but it means Built Robotics is less focused on general construction autonomy than their branding might suggest.
Current State
Today, Built Robotics is primarily:
- A solar trenching automation company (Exosystem)
- Less focused on general excavator autonomy
- Competing in renewable energy infrastructure rather than traditional construction
CHINOU: Construction and Disaster Response
CHINOU takes a fundamentally different approach:
Multi-Application Focus
CHINOU technology serves multiple markets:
- General construction — earthmoving, excavation, grading
- Disaster response — earthquake rubble clearance, wildfire cleanup, hazardous environments
- Critical infrastructure — dam construction, highway projects
Retrofit Model
Unlike companies that focus on new equipment, CHINOU provides retrofit autonomy:
- OEM-agnostic: Works with CAT, Komatsu, John Deere, Hitachi, and others
- Preserves fleet investment: Add autonomy to equipment you already own
- Lower cost: Retrofit vs. replace economics favor retrofit
- Flexibility: Transfer between machines, toggle auto/manual
Proven Track Record
CHINOU has the most extensive deployment record in construction autonomy:
- 400+ projects delivered
- 100+ machines retrofitted
- 6+ years deployed with Japanese fire departments
- Japan's largest dam (Naruse Dam) deployment
- 30+ years of robotics experience
Disaster Response Capability
CHINOU is unique in having production deployment for disaster response:
- Fire department partnerships across 10 prefectures
- Earthquake, wildfire, and hazardous environment operations
- Technology proven in the most demanding real-world conditions
No other autonomous construction equipment company has this track record.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Factor | Built Robotics | CHINOU |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Solar trenching (Exosystem) | Construction + Disaster Response |
| Business Model | New equipment / system | Retrofit existing equipment |
| OEM Approach | Proprietary | OEM-agnostic |
| Projects Deployed | Limited public data | 400+ projects |
| Disaster Response | Not a focus | 6+ years with fire departments |
| Geographic Focus | US | Global (Japan origin, US expansion) |
| Multi-Machine Control | Not emphasized | 1 operator : 3-4 machines |
| Experience | Startup (founded 2016) | 30+ years robotics experience |
Key Differentiators
For General Construction Buyers
If you're looking for autonomous equipment for general construction:
CHINOU advantages:
- Retrofit works with your existing fleet
- OEM flexibility (mixed fleets supported)
- Production-proven across 400+ projects
- Multi-machine fleet control demonstrated
Built Robotics considerations:
- Less focused on general construction since Exosystem pivot
- Solar trenching is their primary offering
- Different use case than general excavation
For Solar/Renewable Buyers
If you're specifically in solar installation:
Built Robotics advantages:
- Purpose-built for solar trenching
- Focused specifically on renewable energy
- Exosystem product designed for this use case
CHINOU considerations:
- General construction focus, not solar-specific
- Retrofit approach works but not optimized for solar trenching
For Disaster Response
If you're in emergency management or disaster response:
CHINOU advantages:
- Only company with production disaster response deployment
- 6+ years with fire departments
- Technology proven in earthquake, wildfire, hazardous environments
Built Robotics considerations:
- Not a focus area
- No published disaster response deployments
Making the Decision
The right choice depends on your specific needs:
Choose CHINOU When:
- You have an existing excavator fleet to retrofit
- You need OEM flexibility (mixed fleet)
- General construction is your primary application
- Disaster response is a requirement
- You want production-proven technology (400+ projects)
- Multi-machine control is important (1:4 ratio)
Consider Built Robotics When:
- Solar/renewable energy is your primary focus
- You're specifically interested in trenching automation
- You're building a new fleet from scratch
Evaluate Both When:
- You have diverse applications
- You're assessing multiple vendors
- You want to compare economics
The Bigger Picture
The autonomous construction equipment market is early-stage, with room for multiple approaches. Built Robotics' pivot to solar reflects the reality that different markets have different requirements.
For general construction and disaster response, CHINOU's retrofit approach, multi-machine control, and extensive deployment history provide a proven path to autonomous operations.
Learn more about CHINOU's approach: Technology | Use Cases | How It Works
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