AI & Robotics Accelerate Wildfire Home Rebuilding in LA
In the wake of the devastating 2025 Southern California wildfires, a groundbreaking collaboration between ABB Robotics and construction technology firm Cosmic Buildings is leveraging artificial intelligence and mobile robotics to accelerate the rebuilding of homes lost in the inferno. This innovative approach promises to deliver housing faster, more affordably, and with enhanced resilience, offering a beacon of hope to communities grappling with immense loss.
The January 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires alone ravaged Southern California, destroying over 16,000 structures, including nearly 9,700 single-family homes, particularly impacting areas like Pacific Palisades. In response, Cosmic Buildings, a public benefit corporation founded by Sasha Jokic, has deployed its proprietary AI-powered mobile robotic microfactories directly to the affected sites. These self-contained units integrate ABB’s advanced IRB 6710 robots and their sophisticated RobotStudio digital twin software with Cosmic’s Robotic Workstation Cell and an AI-driven Building Information Model (BIM). This comprehensive BIM platform manages the entire construction lifecycle, from design and permitting to procurement, robotic fabrication, and final assembly.
A key advantage of this on-site microfactory system is its ability to fabricate custom structural wall panels with millimeter precision, delivering them precisely when needed for assembly. This streamlined process dramatically reduces construction timelines, with Cosmic Buildings reporting that their methods are three times faster than traditional building, capable of completing projects in as little as three months or twelve weeks. This translates to a remarkable reduction in construction time by up to 70%.
Beyond speed, the robotic construction method offers significant cost savings. Homes built using this technology are estimated to cost between $550 and $700 per square foot, a considerable reduction compared to the typical Los Angeles range of $800 to over $1,000 per square foot. This efficiency is achieved through the integration of robotic automation with AI reasoning and on-site deployment, which also ensures consistent quality by enabling real-time decision-making and problem detection through AI and computer vision systems.
Crucially for a region prone to wildfires, the homes constructed by Cosmic Buildings are designed with enhanced resilience. They are built using non-combustible materials and incorporate sustainable features such as solar and battery backup systems, as well as water independence through greywater recycling and renewable water generation. These structures not only meet but exceed California’s stringent wildfire and energy efficiency codes. Cosmic Buildings aims to construct 100 homes using this innovative approach by 2027, marking a significant step towards resilient, fast, and affordable housing solutions in disaster recovery.
This initiative aligns with a broader global trend of integrating AI and robotics into the construction industry to address pressing challenges like labor shortages, rising costs, and the demand for more sustainable building practices. The application of AI in disaster recovery extends beyond construction, with technologies being utilized for rapid damage assessment, search and rescue operations, and even optimizing bureaucratic processes like permit reviews, demonstrating a comprehensive technological push towards smarter disaster response and rebuilding efforts. As Marc Segura, President of ABB’s Robotics Division, articulated, this collaboration is “rewriting the rules of construction and disaster recovery,” showcasing how automation can build faster, safer, and smarter communities.