Dusty Robotics continues to push the boundaries of construction automation, and its partnership with Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence is proving to be one of the most influential drivers of that shift. In a recent discussion, Phil Herget, Co-Founder and CTO of Dusty Robotics, highlighted how the company is redefining the connection between digital design and physical jobsite execution.
Dusty Robotics has long positioned itself at the intersection of robotics, precision measurement, and automation. The company’s FieldPrint platform prints architectural plans directly onto jobsite floors with 1/16-inch accuracy, enabling crews to install walls, MEP systems, and building components exactly where designers intended. Since its founding, Dusty has printed more than 200 million square feet of layout across thousands of projects, supporting top general contractors such as Mortenson, McCarthy and Skanska.
Herget emphasized the firm’s core mission: ensuring that design integrity carries seamlessly into the field through a file-to-field workflow. This system bridges design teams and field crews, reduces layout errors, and streamlines coordination for complex buildings.
Hexagon’s early belief in Dusty’s vision proved essential. Herget said the collaboration accelerated Dusty’s ability to bring manufacturing-grade precision to an industry that has historically faced challenges with accuracy and field coordination. He noted that “What made Hexagon the right partner was their deep expertise in precision measurement and their willingness to collaborate on adapting their metrology solutions for the demanding conditions of construction sites.”
Hexagon’s Leica laser tracker technology has become the backbone of Dusty’s system—especially in data centers, healthcare facilities, and advanced manufacturing projects where accuracy is critical and even minor deviations can lead to costly rework. Dusty saw the limitations of traditional tools and looked toward metrology-grade solutions to elevate layout beyond single-trade workflows.
Dusty set out to raise the industry standard not just for layout, but for how construction information is communicated across trades. Total stations could not support that goal at the scale Dusty envisioned, pushing the company toward solutions like the Leica Absolute Tracker. According to the team, this precision enables Dusty to print intricate layouts, align multiple overlapping passes, and tie together large areas with consistent accuracy—capabilities that are essential for a true file-to-field communication platform.
As the company noted, “Because we eliminate things like rework, which saves time and speeds up value projects get completed faster with better outcomes.” The precision provided by Hexagon allows those gains to be realized consistently across complex job sites.
Integrating Hexagon’s systems has shaped Dusty’s roadmap in ways the company didn’t initially imagine. Dusty's team explained that features such as QR code printing rely on millimeter-level accuracy. The ability to print dynamic points and stud locations while the robot moves has boosted productivity significantly.
This precision also supports new capabilities like floor elevation mapping—critical for hospitals, industrial facilities, clean rooms, and other environments where flatness and elevation variations must be tightly controlled. The company stated that “The accuracy and reliability of Hexagon's technology has given us confidence to think bigger about what's possible.”
Dusty Robotics says the industry reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, with contractors reporting drastic reductions in manual layout time. What once required multiple days of work can now be completed in hours. Crews also gain confidence that what they see on the floor aligns with the latest design documentation.
Dusty noted that this file-to-field workflow is reshaping relationships between design teams and field crews, reducing misunderstandings and eliminating common sources of rework. Across thousands of projects and over 200 million square feet of printed layout, Dusty has seen broad adoption from general contractors, specialty trades, and industrial owners.
The introduction of the Leica AT500 is anticipated to further streamline Dusty’s system. With hot-swappable batteries, fast setup, improved portability, and a rugged IP54 rating, the AT500 is engineered for the real-world conditions found on construction sites.
The expanded 320-meter measurement volume will also allow crews to deploy Dusty's robots in confined areas, multi-room environments, and active workspaces where materials and trades are already operating. Dusty reports growing interest in residential, commercial interior, and infill construction applications, where mobility and setup time are especially important.
Herget emphasized that this next-generation technology will help Dusty continue driving the automated layout category forward, enabling contractors to use robotics in more varied scenarios while preserving the precision that jobs demand.
Originally reported by Phil Herget, Co-Founder and CTO | Dusty Robotics in Dusty Robotics.
