The American company Dusty Robotics has unveiled the second generation of its automated construction layout robot, the FieldPrinter 2 (FP2). The public launch took place on January 23, 2024. TechCrunch has confirmed the release date, and Dusty Robotics itself lists the FieldPrinter 2 as the current model in its FieldPrint platform.
The core idea behind the FP2 is simple: instead of manually transferring drawings and BIM models onto a concrete slab, the robot receives digital data and prints the construction layout directly onto the floor at a 1:1 scale.
How FieldPrinter 2 Works
The FP2 is an autonomous mobile platform that moves across the construction site and marks lines, points, text, and other elements of the digital model onto the surface.
To determine its position, the robot works in conjunction with a laser tracker, while task control and configuration are handled via the Dusty app on an iPad. As a result, the digital model moves from the VDC/BIM environment directly to physical layout on the construction site.
- lines of walls and partitions;
- points and reference marks;
- text;
- arches;
- QR codes;
- SVG images.
Printing is performed at a 1:1 scale with a stated accuracy of 1/16 inch, or approximately 1.6 mm. The print resolution is 308 DPI.
What has changed compared to the first FieldPrinter?
The second generation is more compact and better adapted for operation on actual construction sites. According to TechCrunch, the new machine can print closer to edges and utilizes a "shadow printing" mode, enabling it to mark layouts behind columns and other obstacles.
The dimensions of the robot itself are approximately 333 × 254 × 211 mm, and its weight, including the battery, is about 10.4 kg.
Is this really AI?
An important clarification should be made here. FieldPrinter 2 is not a generative AI robot that independently designs a building or makes architectural decisions.
Its intelligent component lies primarily in autonomous navigation, positioning, digital model processing, and adapting operations to site conditions. The data source itself is a prepared and coordinated digital model.
Updated on August 23, 2026. The system continues to receive software updates in 2026. For example, the April update added a beta feature for printing SVG images, a new method for setting control points at corners, improved performance on slopes, and additional safety features for operation near slab edges and stair openings.
In July 2026, Dusty also released an update featuring improved edge detection, floor elevation measurement, more reliable positioning, and additional safety mechanisms.
Why this is important for digital construction
FieldPrinter 2 is of interest primarily as a link between BIM and the physical construction site.
The traditional process requires workers to manually transfer coordinates from drawings onto the concrete slab. FP2 automates this operation: the digital model is transformed directly into physical layout markings.
Thus, the robot helps reduce manual labor and the risk of errors when transferring design data to the job site. Dusty integrates the FP2 with its proprietary software, plugins for design systems, and the FieldPrint cloud platform.
Release and current status
The Dusty Robotics FieldPrinter 2 was unveiled on January 23, 2024. In October 2024, the company announced the general availability of the FieldPrint platform—including the FieldPrinter 2—marking the product's transition to broad commercial availability.
Conclusion
The Dusty Robotics FieldPrinter 2 is one of the most striking examples of how digital construction is transitioning from the BIM model to an automated physical process.
This is not a "construction robot" in the conventional sense: it does not erect walls or assemble structures. Its task is far more precise—to automatically and accurately transfer a digital construction model directly onto the site.
That is precisely why the FP2 is of interest to large construction companies: it bridges one of the key gaps in digital construction—the transition from the digital design to physical layout.
Sources: Dusty Robotics
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