Fastbrick Robotics and US construction machinery giant Caterpillar Inc have extended their collaboration on the development of Australia’s one-armed robot bricklayer.

The deal extends the term of a deal signed 12 months ago.

Caterpillar, through a wholly owned subsidiary, then invested $US2 million ($AU2.6 million) in Fastbrick Robotics (ASX:FBR).

Caterpillar now has the option to buy $US10 million ($A13.5 million) in shares at 24c until the end of January 2019.

Fastbrick shares were up 3 per cent to 18.5c at 12.15pm AEST Monday.

Fastbrick CEO Mike Pivac says he’s pleased at the continuing relationship with Caterpillar.

“Now that we have completed assembly and commenced commissioning of the Hadrian X, we are looking forward to demonstrating the operational capabilities and potential,” he says.

In the original deal Fastbrick Robotics agreed to deal exclusively with Caterpillar for the development and potential commercialisation of the bricklaying technology.

Fastbrick Robotics shares over the past year (ASX:FBR).
Fastbrick Robotics shares over the past year (ASX:FBR).

Fastbrick is currently testing a commercial version of its robot brickaying machine, Hadrian X, which will cost about $2 million when it goes into full production in 2019.

The Hadrian X requires minimal human interaction and works day and night, laying up to 1,000 bricks an hour — about the output of two human bricklayers for a day.

The prototype Hadrian 105 robot, the first of its kind, can be seen in action below:

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