The exterior wall painting robot showcased by Hoban Construction at the public demonstration. (Image courtesy of Hoban Construction)
SEOUL, May 21 (Korea Bizwire) — Hoban Construction has successfully completed a pilot test of a smart robotic system designed to automate exterior wall painting at construction sites, the company announced Tuesday.
The robot, named “Rollot,” was developed by automation specialist WPS, a startup discovered through Hoban’s open innovation program. Rollot moves vertically along wires and uses a remote-controlled roller to paint building exteriors.
Capable of painting up to 10 meters per minute, the robot operates at 2.5 times the speed of manual labor and is less affected by weather conditions—particularly advantageous for high-rise construction. Hoban expects the technology to significantly enhance construction quality and efficiency.
Unlike traditional spray-based painting methods, Rollot’s roller system minimizes dust dispersion and chemical paint emissions, making it more environmentally friendly. The robot also reduces reliance on workers for high-risk tasks, thereby mitigating fall hazards and other safety concerns.
Hoban said it is evaluating Rollot’s safety, environmental impact, and performance, and is considering deploying it for the main exterior painting phase at its Hoban Summit Incheon Geomdan AB19 Block project, with plans to expand use to additional new construction sites.
The robot will also be paired with an eco-friendly paint co-developed by Hoban Construction, Samhwa Paints, and green concrete additive company POSRAGEN to further enhance on-site sustainability.
“We aim to build safer and more sustainable job sites through the adoption of smart construction technologies,” said Kim Jae-eun, head of Hoban’s Open Innovation Team. “This pilot marks just the beginning of our proactive push to apply robotics and automation across our projects.”
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
