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Apex.AI launches ‘full-scale’ business expansion in the Japanese market

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Apex.AI, a company developing safety-certified software for mobility and automotive applications, has expanded operations to Japan in response to “the growing demand” for software-defined vehicles and to better support businesses in the country.

With a well-established presence in the United States and Europe, Apex.AI is now focusing its international expansion efforts in Asia by launching in Japan as it is home to three of the world’s biggest automakers.

The Japanese entity, Apex.AI Japan GK, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Apex.AI. [Read more…] about Apex.AI launches ‘full-scale’ business expansion in the Japanese market

Covariant raises $75 million in Series C funding

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Covariant, an AI robotics company, has raised an additional $75 million in Series C funds, bringing its total funding to $222 million.

Returning investors Radical Ventures and Index Ventures co-led the round, which also saw additional funding from returning investors Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Amplify Partners.

The round also welcomed new investors Gates Frontier Holdings, AIX Ventures, and Northgate Capital. [Read more…] about Covariant raises $75 million in Series C funding

Autonomous logistics startup Venti Technologies raises $28.8 million in Series A funding

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Venti Technologies, a provider of autonomous logistics for global supply chain and industrial hubs, has secured $28.8 million in a Series A financing.

The financing round was led by LG Technology Ventures, the Silicon Valley-based venture capital arm of the LG Group, with participation from Safar Partners, UOB Venture Management, and existing investors Alpha JWC and LDV Partners.

The funding will be used to accelerate Venti’s growth and meet increasing demand from customers worldwide. [Read more…] about Autonomous logistics startup Venti Technologies raises $28.8 million in Series A funding

Qualcomm and Zebra invest in Third Wave Automation

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Third Wave Automation, a provider of high-reach autonomous forklifts, has received strategic investments from Qualcomm Ventures and Zebra Technologies, bringing the startup’s total funding to $70 million.

Carlos Kokron, vice president, Qualcomm Technologies, and managing director, Qualcomm Ventures Americas, says: “The increasing adoption of advanced robotics, artificial intelligence and 5G connectivity is facilitating the use of autonomous solutions within the warehouse.

“Third Wave Automation’s shared autonomy approach with continuous learning capabilities delivers immediate value to the customers by easily integrating with existing workflows while enhancing labor productivity and safety. We are excited to invest in Third Wave Automation to bring next-generation autonomy to the forklifts.” [Read more…] about Qualcomm and Zebra invest in Third Wave Automation

Raytheon invests in H55 to advance electric propulsion technologies for airplanes

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RTX Ventures, the venture capital arm of Raytheon Technologies, has made a minority investment in electric propulsion system company H55 to drive the development of electric aviation solutions.

The investment in H55 aligns with Raytheon Technologies’ longstanding leadership in the development of innovative and sustainable propulsion technologies.

H55, a Swiss company, is a leading enabler of electric propulsion solutions and battery systems. The team has proven ability in developing, integrating and flight-testing electric propulsion systems, including Solar Impulse, the first solar-powered electric airplane to fly around the world. [Read more…] about Raytheon invests in H55 to advance electric propulsion technologies for airplanes

Scythe Robotics secures $42 million new financing to accelerate production of zero-emissions autonomous mower

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Scythe Robotics, a startup company developing advanced, commercial-grade autonomous solutions for the professional landscape industry, has raised $42 million in Series B financing.

The round was led by Energy Impact Partners and included additional new investors ArcTern Ventures, Alumni Ventures, and Amazon’s Alexa Fund alongside participation from existing investors True Ventures, Inspired Capital and more.

The funding will help Scythe meet demand for the more than 7,500 reservations for its all-electric, fully autonomous M.52 mower placed by commercial landscape businesses nationwide. This financing round brings the company’s total capital raised to date to $60.6 million. [Read more…] about Scythe Robotics secures $42 million new financing to accelerate production of zero-emissions autonomous mower

Lockheed Martin Ventures invests in on-demand manufacturing startup Machina Labs

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Machina Labs has completed an investment by Lockheed Martin Ventures (LMV), the venture arm of Lockheed Martin Corporation, a global security and aerospace company.

Machina Labs combines AI and robotics to rapidly manufacture advanced sheet metal products. This latest funding brings the total raised by Machina Labs to $21.8 million.

The investment will be used to accelerate company growth to meet customer demand, and to expand R&D into additional processes and metallurgical offerings. [Read more…] about Lockheed Martin Ventures invests in on-demand manufacturing startup Machina Labs

Bowe Group leads $8.2 million investment round in robot software company Mov.ai

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Bowe Group, a provider of integrated automation technology, has led an $8.2 million investment round in Mov.ai, a startup specializing in autonomous mobile robots software.

The investment round includes Mov.ai’s existing investors State of Mind Ventures, NFX, and Viola Ventures.

Automation is playing an increasingly important role in the supply chain, specifically in intralogistics, with robots at the forefront of this trend. [Read more…] about Bowe Group leads $8.2 million investment round in robot software company Mov.ai

Pickle Robot raises $26 million to develop robotics for unloading trucks

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Pickle Robot, a startup developing robotic automation systems that unload trucks, says it has “live pilot implementations” which are unloading tens-of-thousands of packages per month at customer sites in the greater Los Angeles area.

The company says it has also raised $26 million in series A funding led by Ranpak, JS Capital, Schusterman Family Investments, Catapult Ventures, and Soros Capital.

Additionally, Pickle Robot has added growth-oriented industry veterans to its leadership team to accelerate commercialization of the company’s flagship robotic unload systems. [Read more…] about Pickle Robot raises $26 million to develop robotics for unloading trucks

Civ Robotics raises $5 million seed funding round

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Civ Robotics has closed a $5 million seed funding round led by ff Venture Capital and Alley Robotics Ventures, with participation from Trimble Ventures.

Civ Robotics’ autonomous surveying solution, CivDot, is an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), designed for civil engineering and infrastructure projects, such as solar farms, roadways, data centers and power plants to name a few.

Tom Yeshurun, co-founder and CEO of Civ Robotics, says: “The construction industry faces worker shortage challenges, and CivDot is empowering efficiency and safety on the job, while driving projects forward from the start. [Read more…] about Civ Robotics raises $5 million seed funding round