ANYbotics Secures $22M Funding for Anymal Robot

ANYbotics, the company behind ANYmal, a four-legged robotic platform designed for diverse industrial applications, has successfully secured $20 million Swiss Francs (approximately $22.3 million) in a Series A funding round. This investment will be used to further the development and expansion of the business, coinciding with a period of growing interest in similar robotic systems.

The company originated as a spin-off from ETH Zurich in 2016, with the ANYmal robot already undergoing significant development at that time. While ANYmal shares a visual resemblance to Spot, the well-known quadrupedal robot created by Boston Dynamics, it’s important to recognize their distinct characteristics. A four-legged design is inherently well-suited for navigating and interacting within spaces created for human use.

ANYbotics is currently working with the third iteration of the robot, which features increasingly advanced computing units and sensor technology.

“Our present ANYmal C model incorporates three integrated, high-performance Intel i7 computers that manage both the robot’s functions and client-specific applications, such as automated inspection procedures,” explained co-founder and CEO Péter Fankhauser in correspondence with TechCrunch. “The increasing availability of smaller, more powerful sensors, driven by advancements in AR/VR and autonomous vehicle technology, has allowed us to equip the latest ANYmal model with comprehensive 360-degree environmental awareness and extended-range scanning capabilities. In instances where off-the-shelf components do not meet our requirements, we dedicate resources to developing our own technologies, resulting in specialized components like custom motors, docking stations, and inspection payload systems.”

A primary use case for robots like ANYmal is the inspection of facilities that traditionally require human personnel. If a robot can replicate a human’s ability to navigate pathways, ascend stairs, and operate doors, it can perform these tasks with greater frequency and consistency, without the need for rest or breaks. Furthermore, it can meticulously monitor and transmit detailed information about its surroundings, utilizing technologies like lidar and RGB cameras. Human operators can then focus on the more complex aspects of analyzing this data and making informed decisions. Deploying an ANYmal robot in environments such as factories, power plants, or data centers has the potential to reduce operational costs and improve efficiency.

Importantly, the robot’s durability is a key consideration, and it has been engineered to withstand demanding conditions.

“Regarding mobility, our focus has been on the factors most critical to our industrial clients: dependable operation and resilience in challenging environments,” Fankhauser stated. “For example, we design and rigorously test ANYmal for both day and night operation in both indoor and outdoor settings, including offshore platforms exposed to saltwater and extreme temperature fluctuations. In these environments, reliability and safety in performing repetitive tasks over extended periods without human intervention are more important than agility.”

Swisscom Ventures spearheaded the funding round, with partner Alexander Schläpfer citing the company’s strong foundation (ETHZ’s respected reputation) and positive outcomes from initial commercial collaborations as key factors in their investment decision.

“Over a decade ago, several of our founders began developing their initial walking robots while studying at ETH Zurich,” noted Fankhauser. “Currently, industries are prepared to embrace this technology, and we are actively deploying our robots with our early adopters.”