Armatrix Secures $2.1 Million for Advanced Robotic Solutions
Bengaluru’s innovative deeptech robotics startup, Armatrix, has successfully secured $2.1 million in a funding round spearheaded by pi Ventures.
This fresh capital will expedite the commercialization of their cutting-edge snake-like robotic arms, engineered specifically for inspection and maintenance tasks within hazardous and confined industrial environments.
Notable participants in this funding round included Inuka Capital, Boundless Ventures, Boost VC, Turbostart, and gradCapital.
The funding is earmarked to facilitate product development, broaden the engineering and research and development team, and initiate pilot programs with early industrial clients.
Founded in 2024 by IIT Kanpur alumni Vishrant Dave, Prateesh Awasthi, and Ayush Ranjan, Armatrix is on a mission to innovate with hyper-redundant robotic arms that mimic tentacle-like movements.
These robotic arms are designed to maneuver through intricate and perilous environments, including complex storage tanks, reactors, aircraft engines, and ship hulls.
The startup has developed a three-meter proof-of-concept (PoC) robotic arm, with aspirations to scale the design to a three-to-five-meter platform. This arm boasts an impressive range of over 22 degrees of freedom and a diameter that varies between 50 and 150 mm.
Technical Breakthroughs
CEO Vishrant Dave expounded on the arm’s capabilities, stating, “Our arm can navigate through three distinct manholes at 90-degree angles, executing operations within confined spaces.
The structure is purely mechanical, comprising links, joints, and cables while housing all motors, electronics, and computational units within a discrete actuator box designed for isolation.”
Moreover, the system incorporates artificial intelligence (AI) for real-time path planning and digital twin simulations, enhancing adaptability to unpredictable industrial complexities.
Targeted Sectors
Armatrix is eyeing sectors such as shipbuilding, oil and gas, nuclear energy, and aviation, where maintenance and inspection activities necessitate shutdowns, scaffolding, and human entry into confined spaces—practices that elevate downtime and safety risks significantly.
Currently, the startup is engaged with multiple clients across these domains. “While we are in the early phases of discussions, we have signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and customer contracts,” noted the founder, emphasizing that the funding will propel the transition from PoC to functional deployments, validating their platform in real-world scenarios.
Insights from Industry Leaders
Manish Singhal, founding partner at pi Ventures, reflected on the challenge of costly and inadequately automated industrial maintenance.
“Armatrix’s unique hardware architecture, coupled with AI-driven controls, fills a crucial operational void in essential industries,” he stated.
In pursuit of an ambitious long-term vision, Armatrix aims to deliver a comprehensive solution encompassing inspection, analysis, maintenance, and post-maintenance evaluation.
“From our discussions with clients, we have discerned that while partial solutions can generate returns on investment, full end-to-end automation will unlock substantial value,” added Dave in closing.
Source link: M.economictimes.com.
