Construction automation and robotics is a construction technology by which the process is conducted without or with limited human assistance, with the goal of advancing construction. With many procedures in the construction life cycle, there are plentiful applications construction automation and robotics can be applied in those steps, including excavation, framing, surveying, painting, pre-fabrication, tunneling, inspection and maintenance, etc. This study compared automation and robotics entities between 2010s and 1980s-1990s, distributed a questionnaire survey in the construction industry after which critical needs for applying the technology and influential factors in applying the technology are studied, and conducted case studies of typical companies that embraced construction automation. An international conference on this topic was held to provide professional opinions on future automation application. The results reveal development needs and critical challenges in the application of automation and robotics and provide guidance in future studies.