Gravis Robotics has launched its live, production-scale autonomy technology to the United States.
At ConExpo, the Physical AI company launched Gravis Copilot – the construction industry’s first commercially available machine-guidance platform that is autonomy-ready for operators.
In collaboration with Develon and Hitachi, Gravis demonstrated its systems’ earthmoving capabilities at ConExpo, enabled by its retrofit hardware that is currently in use on construction sites around the world.
“ConExpo 2026 marks the moment where Physical AI moves from the R&D lab to the American jobsite,” said Ryan Luke Johns, CEO and Co-founder of Gravis Robotics.
“With Gravis Copilot, we give contractors a system that delivers massive utility today while building the data foundation for the fully autonomous worksites of tomorrow.”
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Gravis’ Physical AI continuously senses, decides and acts alongside human crews on real-world sites. Its platform fuses physical perception from a range of sensors – LiDAR, cameras, GNSS and hydraulic feedback – with online learning and control. This allows the machines to feel the earth and adjust in real-time to changing ground conditions.
In Hitachi’s ConExpo booth, Gravis Copilot was setup on a 13-ton ZX135US-7 excavator. In its live demos, an operator used the system to “train” the machine to dig a trench autonomously, based on the operator’s inputs.
“Showcasing Gravis Robotics as a live demo in our ConExpo booth is not only exciting for our attendees to see, but also a terrific example of how Hitachi Construction Machinery is partnering with leading edge technology companies as part of our brand transition to LANDCROS,” said Gabe Weiss, Head of Marketing, Americas at Hitachi Construction Machinery Americas.
“AI and digitally guided control systems, augmented machine guidance and earthmoving autonomy solutions that Gravis is demoing on our ZX135-7H highlights how new and current Hitachi machinery will bring innovative solutions to the modern job site.”
Gravis Copilot launch
Designed to be the fastest way for contractors to get started with autonomy, Copilot combines real-time terrain visualization, excavation depth guidance and human form recognition with operator control. The system works within existing workflows, meaning no process changes or regulatory delays, and it keeps operators in control, while still benefiting from sensor-fused perception and autonomy-level onboard AI.
This allows contractors to unlock immediate productivity gains while preparing their business for a future with ever-increasing levels of autonomy.
Copilot is built on Gravis’ platform, meaning every machine equipped today is autonomy ready. Contractors can unlock fully autonomous tasks, such as trenching and truck loading, with a simple software upgrade. The approach allows contractors to adopt autonomy at their own pace, starting with one system and scaling across machines, fleets and crews when ready.
Real-world application
Across its multiple global deployments, Gravis partners have recoded up to a 30 per cent increase in operator productivity, with 97 per cent bucket fill rates, and estimated annual net savings of up to $74,000 per machine.
Gravis-powered machines are already deployed across major infrastructure and materials projects in seven countries spanning the UK, Europe, Latin America, Asia and now the United States.
This includes a 60-mile autonomous oil and gas pipeline project with Techint Group, the first partner to deploy Gravis’ autonomy in Argentina. The project involves multiple 36-ton Gravis-powered excavators autonomously digging six-foot trenches in highly compacted and heterogeneous soil and shallow bedrock.
“We see significant potential in Gravis’ approach and look forward to continuing our collaboration as we scale autonomous operations across future projects,” said Alejandro Aguirre from Techint Engineering and Construction
