BRICKBOTS: A brief article with references on the development of bricklaying robots.

The author notes that "In most of the countries around the world the implementation of this robot would be more expensive than to hire labor. " What the short article seems to describe is a telepresence or "waldo" device, ie: one which operates as an extension of an operator but not independent of him. However, once the bricklaying process is mechanized (or a new mechanized bricklaying process is developed, a subtly different thing), there is no reason that it couldn't be increasingly automated to the point of simply requiring supervision rather than direct operation.

There is nothing stopping those involved from developing such machines today, except the expectation of a poor market for them due to the new technology being more expensive than the skilled labor it replaces. However, the economics on Mars will be very different in this regard -- Mars will not be like the countries around the world, in terms of labor rates, as the skilled labor required for bricklaying will be far too expensive on Mars. If brick structures are indeed desirable in martian settlements, the economics may support development of such machines. Matured on Mars, the technology could then be used on Earth, where it would now be competitive against skilled labor.

And of course, the license fees for the technology would defray the cost of its development, and eventually turn a tidy profit for the martian developers.