Homebuilder D.R. Horton Signs Robotics Deal for Factory Production

D.R. Horton, the country's largest homebuilder, announced this week that it signed a multiyear deal with Canadian robotics firm Promise Robotics to build more than 1,250 homes using its AI-powered "factory as a service" platform.The partnership is the first of its kind for D.R. Horton, which built about 85,000 homes last year and more than 1 million homes in the U.S. since it was founded in 1978. The "factory as a service" approach lets Horton use Promise's AI-enhanced production capabilities without investing in a factory buildout. Crucially, Promise's platform can ingest Horton's existing designs to generate instructions and workflows for its robotic arms. AI tools are integrated into everything from generating production plans to developing integrated manufacturing processes. Promise's robots will handle most factory production—including components like stairs, doors, and window frames—before the home is assembled on-site. Its facilities recently began producing plumbing and HVAC components as well.While D.R. Horton hasn't traditionally built modular homes, this partnership marks a step toward incorporating modular production technicues into its portfolio.Last year, Promise sign...