Meet Charlotte: the spider-like robot that could help ease Australia’s labour squeeze

A six-legged robot named Charlotte stole the spotlight at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Sydney this week, and not just for her sci-fi looks. 

Developed by Crest Robotics and Earthbuilt Technology, Charlotte combines robotics with 3D printing to build structures at remarkable speed. Her creators say she could construct a 200-square-metre house in just 24 hours, using locally sourced sand, clay and waste materials compacted into strong, low-carbon walls. 

Charlotte’s development has already received financial support from the NSW Government’s Space+ program, backing its potential to transform how we build homes and infrastructure. 

Why this matters 

Australia’s construction sector is grappling with labour shortages, rising costs and stagnant productivity. Charlotte’s semi-autonomous system could help fill some of that gap by taking on the repetitive, high-risk manual work that’s traditionally slowed projects down. 

“Robotics is the key to solving the housing crisis in Australia and generally the labour productivity crisis,” said Crest Robotics director Dr Claude Webster. 

His colleague at Earthbuilt Technology, Dr Jan Golembiewski, adds that Charlotte “will work at the speed of over 100 bricklayers” – a testament to the kind of productivity gains robotics could deliver. 

For employers across construction and infrastructure, the potential goes beyond speed. By reducing the need for large crews for basic wall-building, technology like this could free up skilled workers for the more complex, higher-value tasks that still need human hands. 

Reaching for the stars 

Charlotte’s ambitions aren’t limited to Earth. Her lightweight, foldable design is also being considered for building lunar bases for future NASA Artemis missions, proof that the push for innovation in extreme environments can create practical solutions back home. 

Our take 

Breakthroughs like Charlotte’s are worth watching closely because they show how automation could reshape workforce demand across all areas of construction. 

With skilled labour in short supply nationwide, the future of building may increasingly involve humans and robots working side-by-side, speeding up delivery and reducing risk while keeping people focused where their expertise is most needed.