As you may know by now, SAM100 (Semi-Automated Mason) is a robotic bricklayer that was launched in 2015 at World of Concrete, where it won the Most Innovative Product Industry Choice Award. The enhanced version of the robot, Sam100 OS 2.0, which debuted in January at 2017 World of Concrete, is much faster.
SAM was created by New York-based Construction Robotics, and can lay up to 3,000 bricks per day, thanks to its conveyor belt, robotic arm, and concrete pump. By comparison, a human can lay about 500 bricks per day. While SAM doesn't come cheap (about $500,000), it's seen as a potentially tranformative tool in revolutionizing future building sites.
Some have criticized the machine, saying that it will take jobs away from hardworking masons. But in reality, SAM should be viewed as a mason's best friend. According to Wasco CEO Andy Sneed, having SAM on a job is like adding another mason, which is a great value considering that nationwide shortage of skilled workers.
The robot can handle the repetitive task of laying bricks while the masons can focus more on quality control and working on other facets of the wall. The mason will continue to own the site setup and final wall quality, but will become more efficient with the help of SAM.
The robotic-mason has already been used on a few projects, and could soon be on a jobsite near you.
