🦾 HardTech Reads: The AI & Robotics Revolution vol.27

Welcome to the exploration of the world where founders embark on bold quests and solve non-obvious problems🤘

🏭 Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence Launches Digital Factory-as-a-Service, 🤖 China’s UBTECH Robotics Is Training Better Robot Co-Workers, 📦 Locus Robotics Targets Warehouse Labor With 90% Automation, 🧠 SoftBank Eyes $1 Trillion AI + Robotics Push in U.S., 🇨🇳 U.S. vs. China: The Humanoid Robotics Race, 💬 JD Vance Channels Populist-Builder Energy in Industrial Tech Speech, 🔧 Rockwell Automation Teams Up With Amazon Web Services (AWS) on Factory Simulation Tools,🔋 Fourier / 🤖 The Bot Co. / 🚚 Fleetio / 🛵 Rivian Skunkworks / ♻️ Topanga.io / 🌋 XGS Energy / 📦 Contoro Robotics / ⚡ DeCharge Network / 🏢 GridPoint / 🔗 LightSource / ⚓ OpenTug / 🌐 AttoTude / 🌱 Persefoni AI / 🚛 BetterFleet / 💧 LeakZon / 🔋 EVident Battery, Inc. / 🏗️ BuildVision / 🔩 Novarc Technologies Inc. / 🛡️ Allen Control Systems / 🚁 Manna Air Delivery

🚀 HARDTECH NEWS: Robotics & AI Innovations

🏭 Hexagon Launches ‘Digital Factory-as-a-Service’
Hexagon’s new “Digital Factory as-a-Service” offering aims to turbocharge global manufacturing agility by offering digital twins, simulation, and AI-powered production workflows as a turnkey service. This modular platform helps manufacturers spin up new lines, adapt to changing demand, and reduce time to scale. Read more.

🤖 China Wants Better Robot Co-Workers — And Fast
UBTech’s humanoid robots are being trained to sort auto parts, move containers, and collaborate — robot-to-robot — on tasks. Though slower than humans now, the machines are learning quickly and can run 24/7. The company expects to ship up to 1,000 units this year, part of China’s broader push to industrialize humanoid automation. Read more.

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📦 Locus Robotics Unveils High-Density Fulfillment System
Locus Array integrates AMRs, robotic picking arms, and dense storage towers into one AI-driven warehouse system. Designed for healthcare, retail, and e-commerce, it promises 99.9% picking accuracy and up to 90% reduction in labor. With over 4B picks under its belt, Locus is already one of the most proven players in warehouse automation. Read more.

🌎 SoftBank Eyes $1 Trillion for U.S. AI + Robotics
SoftBank is reportedly exploring a $1 trillion investment strategy to build AI-powered industrial parks in the U.S. The plan would focus on robots managing core infrastructure for logistics and manufacturing. If even partially realized, this could become the largest AI-focused infrastructure play globally. Read more.

🇨🇳 U.S. Tech Giants Push Humanoids — But China’s Catching Up Fast
American tech companies are doubling down on robotics, but MITechNews suggests that China’s integration of AI and manufacturing is more agile, more subsidized, and scaling faster. The global race for humanoid dominance is just getting started — and it’s geopolitical. Read more.

💬 JD Vance on Tech, Labor & National Power
In an unfiltered and fiery speech at the American Dynamism Summit, VP JD Vance laid out a techno-populist vision for U.S. manufacturing. The core message: innovation and labor must align. Automation without dignity is dangerous, but resisting innovation is worse. His remarks spanned energy policy, tariffs, industrial sovereignty, and why immersive gaming won’t replace meaningful work. Read more.

🤖 Rockwell Automation Partners with AWS, Launches Emulate3D
Rockwell is doubling down on industrial simulation with its new Emulate3D testing platform and a strategic collaboration with AWS. The tools aim to improve testing, speed up factory deployment, and reduce risks of large-scale automation builds. Read more.

🚀 Startups to Know: Game-Changers in HardTech & AI

Fourier raised $18.5M Series A to rethink hydrogen electrolyzers with modular, blade-style systems. Led by General Catalyst and Paramark Ventures.

The Bot Co. raised $150M at a $2B valuation to build home robots. Led by Greenoaks; founded by ex-Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt.

Fleetio raised $450M to expand its fleet management platform. Co-led by Elephant VC and Goldman Sachs Alternatives.

Rivian Skunkworks raised $105M for its new micromobility spinout. Backed by Eclipse Ventures.

Topanga raised $8M Series A to reduce waste across industries. Led by Blue Bear Capital, with Struck Capital, Amasia, and Wonder Ventures.

XGS Energy raised $13M for geothermal innovation. Backed by Aligned Climate Capital, ClearSky, ClimateIC, and WovenEarth Ventures.

Contoro Robotics raised $12M Series A to automate cargo unloading. Investors include Doosan, Coupang, Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund, IMM, SV Investment, KB Investment, Kakao Ventures, and Future Play.

DeCharge raised $2.5M Seed for an EV charging network. Led by Lemniscap; joined by Colosseum, Daedalus Angels, EV3 Labs, Echo Fundraiser Chainyoda Jedis, and Levitate Labs.

GridPoint raised $45M for decarbonizing commercial buildings. Led by Marunouchi Innovation Partners, with Goldman Sachs, Shell Ventures, I Squared Capital, TOMS Capital, Fortress, Olympia Group, and QVT.

LightSource raised $33M to optimize supply chains. Co-led by Bain Capital Ventures and Lightspeed; J2 Ventures also participated.

OpenTug raised $2.2M to digitize maritime logistics. Led by TMV.

AttoTude raised $50M Series B for high-performance data center connectivity. Led by Mayfield, with Sutter Hill Ventures, Canaan Partners, and Wing VC.

Persefoni AI raised $23M Series C extension to manage sustainability metrics. Backed by TPG Rise, Rice Investment Group, Clearvision Ventures, and NGP Energy Tech Partners.

BetterFleet raised $15M for fleet decarbonization. From Aligned Climate Capital, Ecosystem Integrity Fund, and Remarkable Ventures Climate.

LeakZon raised $5M Series A for utility-focused water leak detection. Led by Peal Holdings.

Evident Battery raised $3.2M for battery inspection systems. Led by Ibex Investors; joined by Nationwide Ventures, Automotive Ventures, and Avesta Fund.

BuildVision raised $10M Series A for construction procurement. Led by Norwest Venture Partners and Crosslink Capital.

Novarc Technologies raised $50M Series B to scale robotic welding. Led by Export Development Canada, with Graham Partners, Seaspan, and InBC Investment.

Allen Control Systems raised $30M Series A for autonomous robotic turrets. Led by Craft Ventures, with Inspired Capital and Rally Ventures.

Manna raised $30M for drone delivery. Led by Molten Ventures and Tapestry VC; joined by Enterprise Ireland, Coca-Cola HBC, Dynamo VC, and Radius Capital.

📚FAVORITE RESOURCES

🎥 Machina Labs: The Future of Metal Shaping with AI & Robotics
A behind-the-scenes look at how Machina Labs uses robotic arms and AI to reshape the future of metal fabrication — faster, cheaper, and with more material flexibility than traditional processes.

🎤EVENTS

Who’s coming to HardTech Awards (Vancouver), Hill and Valley (Washington, DC), Reindustrialize (Detroit, Mi)?

➖ April 18–20 11th International Conference on Control, Automation and Robotics (ICCAR) (Kyoto, Japan)
➖ April 23–26 RoboSoft (Lausanne, Switzerland)
➖ April 30 — Hill and Valley Forum 2025 (Washington, DC) — ping me if you are there!
➖ April 30-May 1 Robotics Summit (Boston, Massachussets)
➖ May 12–15 Automate (Detroit, Michigan)
➖ May 17–23 ICRA 2025 (Atlanta, Georgia)
➖ May 18–21 International Electric Machines and Drives Conference (Houston, TX)
➖ May 19–23 International Conference on Robotics & Automation (Atlanta, Georgia)
➖ May 20–21 Robotics & Automation Conference (Tel Aviv, Israel)

HARDTECH AWARDS — if you are coming to WebSummit, join us on May 30 for HardTech Awards!

➖ June 30-July 2 International Conference on Ubiquitous Robots (College Station, Texas)
➖ June 16–17 — Reindustrialize, Detroit, MI — ping me if you are there!
➖ Aug. 18–22 Intl. Conference on Automation Science & Engineering (Anaheim, California)

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You can also find me on LinkedIn and Substack 🛠️

If you are interested in AI, Robotics & HardTech, check my previous posts:

➡️ The Coming Scarcity of Humanity
➡️ Clone Alpha: The Next Leap in Humanoid Robotics
➡️ Will we have a chatGPT moment for Robots?
➡️ ‘Made in China’-Robotics Market Overview