Innovation

The Future of Robotics

What impact will robotics have on our society?

Autonomous systems are increasingly taking on tasks in our everyday lives, whether at home, in retail settings, or in industrial environments. However, their full potential can only be realized in environments that are specifically designed to support them.

The construction and real estate industry is currently undergoing a paradigm shift. Buildings are no longer designed solely for people; instead, they are conceived as integrated systems in which space, technology, and human use interact intelligently.

Why?

Automated and autonomous systems are increasingly taking on tasks in construction, operations, maintenance, and service delivery. As their capabilities expand, they create new requirements for buildings, infrastructure, and operational processes.

We help companies, investors, and public-sector organizations navigate this transformation holistically, from strategy and planning to the implementation of robotics-ready environments. Our approach encompasses the underlying data, IT, and infrastructure architecture required to enable the successful deployment and operation of autonomous systems.

A Holistic Approach to Robotics

We design buildings and infrastructure with automated and autonomous systems in mind, creating the conditions required for their safe, efficient, and cost-effective deployment and operation.

Our approach is built on interconnected data and system ecosystems that enable intelligent, responsive environments. By integrating sensors, data platforms, IT/OT architectures, and AI-powered analytics, we create environments that can respond dynamically to changing conditions, automate processes, and continuously optimize performance over time.

What are the key challenges in Robotics?

Successfully implementing robotics requires more than deploying technology. Long-term success depends on the effective interaction of people, space, technology, and processes. We help organizations address key challenges, including:

Skilled labor shortages and the growing need to automate repetitive and labor-intensive tasks
Increasing demands for efficiencies, quality, and productivity across the entire asset lifecycle
Achieving sustainability goals through more precise, resource-efficient, and data-driven operations.
Enabling new concepts for work, living, healthcare, mobility, and industrial environments
Meeting rising requirements for data integration, cybersecurity, and resilient digital infrastructure

Real Estate

The real estate industry is at the forefront of preparing the built environment for automated and autonomous systems. The focus is on planning, designing, and developing robotics-ready buildings and districts that are flexible, adaptable, and capable of supporting emerging technologies throughout their lifecycle.

Areas of application:

Planning and developing robotics-ready buildings and districts
Integrating sensor networks and digital infrastructure
Leveraging digital twins as the foundation for automated operations and asset management
Automating construction logistics and enabling data-driven construction processes
Preparing buildings for automated services and operations throughout the asset lifecycle
Transforming existing properties into robotics-ready environments through targeted renovations and digital modernization

Infrastructure

In complex, high-use infrastructure environments, automated and autonomous systems play an increasingly important role in improving operational efficiency, safety, and asset performance.

Areas of application:

Automating maintenance and operational processes
Inspecting and monitoring critical assets and infrastructure
Enabling data-driven management of critical infrastructure
Supporting operations teams with intelligent assistance systems

Industry

In industrial environments, buildings, production systems, and logistics are increasingly converging into integrated, data-driven ecosystems. Automated and autonomous systems are key drivers of efficiency, resilience, and long-term competitiveness.

Areas of application:

Automating production, material handling, and logistics systems
Integrating buildings, production systems, and critical infrastructure
Creating sensor-enabled environments that support autonomous operations
Enabling data-driven optimization of operations, maintenance, and asset performance

STRONG COOPERATION WITH NEURA ROBOTICS

Together with NEURA Robotics, Drees & Sommer is advancing the development of robotics-enabled environments. The goal is to design buildings as interconnected, learning systems where architecture, data, and automated systems seamlessly interact. This partnership exemplifies how robotics is increasingly becoming an integral part of planning and operations—delivering measurable value in real-world projects.

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Sensorized Environments

Sensorized environments are a fundamental building block of robotics-ready buildings. By collecting and integrating environmental data, including movement patterns, occupancy, equipment status, and building performance, we can create adaptive and responsive infrastructure that enables automated and autonomous systems to operate safely and efficiently.

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Digital Services and Technologies

With our digital services, we combine strategic consulting with technological implementation. We develop digital solutions that deliver measurable benefits – ranging from data and AI to cloud and cybersecurity, as well as IoT and smart services. What sets us apart: We merge technology with a deep understanding of real-world operational and project environments. This is where your digital value is created – forming the foundation for automated and integrated systems in the built environment.

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