Gravis Robotics' Gravis Rack turns conventional machines into robotic systems

At CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026, Gravis Robotics' Gravis Rack platform was selected by show attendees as the Contractors' Choice winner for Technology in the Next Level Awards program. Gravis Rack transforms conventional earthmoving machines into intelligent robotic equipment with sensors, on-board computing, and intuitive operator controls. While robotics in construction is often discussed in terms of fully autonomous machines, Gravis Robotics is approaching autonomy differently. Instead of focusing solely on full autonomy, the company is developing systems that support operators and automated workflows, so contractors can incorporate automation without significantly changing how they already work. "We want to address not just those people who are already tech savvy, but the entire community," said Ryan Johns, CEO and co-founder of Gravis Robotics, at CONEXPO-CON/AGG. Gravis Robotics rethinks how automation is introduced While construction technologies continue to advance, automation adoption across the industry remains inconsistent. According to Johns, fewer than 30 percent of the U.S. market is currently using machine guidance or machine control systems. That reality shapes how Gravis Robotics designs its technology. Many job sites still rely on traditional workflows like survey stakes, stringlines, and paint markings rather than CAD-driven excavation plans. As a result, systems that assume fully digitized job site data can be difficult for many contractors to adopt. Gravis Robotics addresses this disconnect by building tools that work with existing workflows while gradually introducing more advanced capabilities. The company's approach frames autonomy not as an immediate leap, but as a progression, allowing contractors to adopt automation at their own pace while continuing to operate equipment in familiar ways.