🇳🇴 T-robotics secures $5.4 million seed funding and applies AI to how industrial robots understand, learn, and adapt to complex manufacturing environments

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Company is one of two winners of the ABB AI Startup Challenge, selected to collaborate on conversational AI and adaptive learning robotics

December 17, 2024 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

SAN FRANCISCO & TRONDHEIM, Norway–(BUSINESS WIRE)–T-robotics, a developer of programming for any robot using natural language and skill models with no code required, today announced it has raised a $5.4 million Seed round, co-led by Emergent Ventures and Engine Ventures with Berkeley Skydeck and Raisewell participating. T-robotics will use the fresh capital to expand its U.S. and E.U. operations. Additionally, the company was selected as one of just two winners, from among a group of more than 100 global applicants, in the ABB AI Startup Challenge.

“Billions of dollars are spent developing humanoid robots, but the real workhorses—the 4.3 million robotic arms already in use and the half million produced annually—are still underutilized and haven’t benefited from the latest AI advancements. For decades, industrial robots have required complex programming in controlled environments. Yet, they often fail and perform limited tasks for only a few industries,” said Asad Tirmizi, Co-Founder and CEO of T-robotics. “We believe single-purpose robots will continue to play a key role in industry. By providing pre-trained AI skills that allow them to better understand the task they have to perform, we will create more intelligent, productive robotic partners.”

T-robotics’s software, ActGPT, is robot-agnostic and integrates with a variety of commercial robotic solutions, such as robotic arms or mobile robots, and leverages multi-modal data streams from vision, haptics, and language inputs to empower robots with enhanced problem-solving capabilities.

“Today, manufacturing robot arms could perform tasks faster, with accuracy and adaptability, if programming complexity was reduced for non-technical users,” said Reed Sturtevant, General Partner at Engine Ventures. “T-robotics represents a step-change in robot performance and ROI as its pre-trained AI skill models for machine tending, and other applications are easily programmed through a conversational AI interface. As deep tech investors it is rare that we find an AI company that gives us optimism like T-robotics.”

In May, global robotics and automation leader ABB created a global startup challenge to accelerate the robotics and AI industries by seeking innovation across the three key areas of natural language programming, skill learning, and autonomous decision-making. T-robotics was recognized for its breakthrough physical AI models that allow operators to program robots through natural conversation while maintaining precision through industry-specific skill models. As a challenge winner, T-robotics will:

  • collaborate with ABB to significantly reduce programming time while ensuring optimal performance across various manufacturing scenarios

  • expect to launch its first commercial application with ABB in 2025

Since inception, T-robotics has generated a strong early pipeline of customers. This includes targeting customers with underutilized robots—often difficult to reprogram or maintain—and working with large channel partners such as OEMs like ABB and system integrators for new installations. These partnerships enable scalable deployment and wide market penetration while reducing barriers for end users.

T-robotics was founded in 2024 by robotics industry veterans Asad Tirmizi, Founder and CEO with Lars Tingelstad, Co-founder and CTO. Tirmizi has more than a decade of experience, earning his PhD in Robotics and Haptics from the Università di Siena in Italy, for which he won the top doctoral dissertation award. He then led Factory-of-the-Future research at Flanders Make and later worked at Vicarious, a robotics company acquired by Google. Tingelstad has more than 15 years of experience in industrial robotics and earned his PhD in Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Prior to founding T-robotics, he served as Associate Professor in Robotic Production at NTNU, focusing on optimization and 3D geometry for robotic applications.

“The convergence of advanced AI with the massive installed base of industrial robots represents one of the most compelling opportunities we see in automation today,” said Anupam Rastogi, Managing Partner at Emergent Ventures and incoming board member at T-robotics. “Their innovative approach with pre-trained skill models enables industrial operators to rapidly reprogram their existing robots, unlocking tremendous value. We are thrilled to partner with an outstanding team that combines deep technical expertise with remarkable execution velocity to transform how industries approach automation.”

About T-robotics

Founded in 2024 and headquartered in San Francisco (USA) and Trondheim (Norway), T-robotics is redefining robotics by combining advanced AI for intuitive programming with pre-trained skill models that are expert at specific tasks. The company’s software gives users unprecedented ease and capabilities for their robots allowing them to think, adapt, and perform complex tasks like an intelligent and skilled worker. T-robotics’ mission is to simplify industrial automation, empowering businesses across various sectors to enhance productivity and efficiency. The company enables robots to operate autonomously in both predictable and unpredictable environments. Visit T-robotics at: https://www.t-robotics.ai/

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Kerry Walker
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Originally published on 17 December by T-robotics.

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