In this talk, Mollie from AUAR makes the case that the housing crisis is fundamentally a manufacturing problem, and argues that construction needs its own purpose-built form of automation rather than relying on generalist robotics. She explains why AUAR has focused on microfactories and vertical robotics as a way to make housing delivery faster, cheaper, and more scalable.

The talk outlines AUAR’s system: container-based robotic microfactories that can be deployed directly on site to manufacture timber frame housing, paired with a software and control layer that continually learns from every build. Rather than selling robots as equipment, AUAR delivers production as a service, giving builders access to factory-quality output without the cost and risk of owning a factory.

Mollie also explores how domain-specific automation, physical AI, and operational feedback loops can reduce costs, speed up construction, and open up new possibilities for mid-rise timber housing. More broadly, the talk positions robotics not as a futuristic extra, but as a practical tool for reshaping how homes are delivered at scale.

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