Recently, Zhang Zhixiang, Founder and President of Legend Robot, sat down with Coatings Online for an in-depth interview. The discussion focused on how construction robots can help address labor shortages and efficiency bottlenecks in the building industry, while also highlighting Legend Robot’s innovation practices and strategic roadmap.
In just three years, this Shenzhen-based startup has achieved a remarkable leap—from early-stage R&D to large-scale commercial application. Guided by Zhang’s vision, the company is building a technological bridge between traditional construction and advanced robotics, much like the magpie symbol behind its name—steadily paving the way toward a smarter future for the construction industry.
“Magpie Bridge”: Connecting Tradition and Technology
“In Chinese culture, there is a beautiful story about the ‘Magpie Bridge.’ For us, building robots is about letting machines take on the labor of construction.” When Zhang named the company Legend Robot (literally “Leading Magpie”), he wanted the name to carry symbolic weight. To him, the construction industry and robotics technology are like two distant shores, and his company is the magpie that builds the bridge.
Behind the metaphor lies a clear strategic role. Zhang defines Legend Robot as an “engine” in the construction ecosystem:
As a core manufacturer, the company identifies industry pain points and develops robots to address them.
As a technology enabler, it supports operators through leasing and sales models.
As a value driver, it helps contractors enhance efficiency across projects.
“We are a leader, yes—but more importantly, we are the driving force pushing the entire value chain forward,” Zhang emphasized.
Mission-Driven: Empower Construction with Intelligence, Elevate Labor with Dignity
This mission, written by Zhang himself, is not an empty slogan—it is the principle guiding every product decision.
On the technology side, Zhang insists on true autonomy. While some argued for remote-controlled robots as a simpler solution, he was convinced that only self-perception and autonomous execution could transform construction. Legend Robot became the first in the industry to achieve full-stack capability in environmental sensing and autonomous decision-making. Its IoT system monitors equipment and collects construction data in real time, which is offered to clients free of charge despite the cost. “If the industry can become smarter, we’re willing to give up some margin,” Zhang said.
On the human side, worker dignity is embedded in product priorities. Rather than chasing the most lucrative processes, Legend Robot focuses on those most harmful to worker health. Paint spraying and floor grinding—tasks involving dust, noise, and toxic chemicals—became the company’s first focus. Zhang himself, allergic to formaldehyde, recalls struggling to stay even 15 minutes at a paint site. That experience reinforced his determination to replace high-risk labor with robots.
Breaking Barriers: Redefining Industry Standards with Perception and Decision
Legend Robot’s portfolio of six robots is unified by one core advantage: advanced perception and decision-making.
Unlike most systems that rely heavily on CAD or BIM drawings, these robots build their own high-precision 3D models of real construction environments. With 99.9% recognition accuracy and millimeter-level precision, they can identify deviations between plans and reality—one of the main reasons traditional automation often fails. Based on this understanding, the robots autonomously generate work plans.
“The decisive factor in robotics is perception and decision,” Zhang explained. To strengthen these capabilities, Legend Robot is:
Expanding from indoor to outdoor scenarios,
Increasing recognition from hundreds to thousands of object types,
Continuously refining decision algorithms for higher efficiency and intelligence.
Dual Strategy: Residential and Public Projects, with Future Extensions Ahead
Legend Robot’s commercial strategy is built on two pillars: residential projects and public/commercial buildings—the two largest segments of the construction market. This dual-track approach ensures both scalability and broad applicability.
Looking ahead, the roadmap is twofold:
Vertical expansion: Covering more construction processes. “We currently focus on painting, tiling, and grinding,” Zhang said. “But every building involves dozens of processes. We will keep expanding our product line.”
Horizontal extension: Expanding from construction into building lifecycle management. “Construction is just the starting point,” Zhang noted. “Once the technology matures, robots can naturally extend into operations and facility management.”
Vision of a Bridge Builder
At a time when the global construction industry faces both labor shortages and the push for digital transformation, Zhang and the Legend Robot team are staying true to their role as “bridge builders.”
With breakthrough technologies and a mission-driven mindset, they are redefining how buildings are constructed: smarter, faster, and safer. At the same time, they are protecting the dignity and well-being of workers. This “Magpie Bridge,” built on innovation and responsibility, is guiding China’s construction industry toward a more intelligent, humane, and sustainable future.
Legend Robot’s journey is only just beginning, but its flight path is already one worth watching.
