To make housing faster, smarter, and more accessible – especially in Northern and remote communities, a team at Laurentian University’s McEwen School of Architecture is developing a robotic homebuilding system that combines machine vision with sustainable, locally sourced materials.
The portable, cable-driven parallel robot (CDPR) is designed to automate large-scale fabrication and assembly — right onsite in Northern Ontario communities. The prototype robot autonomously identifies, lifts, rotates, and places structural wall panels, making construction faster, safer, and more cost-effective. By combining advanced design, material science, and robotics, the team tackles challenges like harsh winters, high labour costs, and an aging workforce that hinder rural housing development. Using bio-based materials and automation, this innovation lowers housing costs and cuts carbon emissions, addressing the urgent need for climate-friendly building solutions.
With a user-friendly interface operable by non professionals via tablets, audio commands, or augmented reality, the technology can be adopted by local builders and community members, rather than requiring specialists. This work also supports the modernization of construction by reducing reliance on repetitive, physically demanding tasks while attracting a new generation of tech-savvy workers. With 22 per cent of residential construction workers expected to retire in the next decade, especially in regions like Northern Ontario, innovative solutions like this offer a scalable solution to Ontario’s labour shortage and housing crisis.
For more information, visit Laurentian University.
