Swiss robotics company ANYbotics has marked a transformative chapter in its journey, closing an impressive €127 million Series C funding round. This substantial investment underscores not only the company’s technological prowess but also the mounting confidence from global investors in the future of autonomous robotics. As industries worldwide accelerate digitalization and automation, ANYbotics’ latest milestone signals a pivotal moment for robotics in heavy industry and infrastructure.
Investors and Financial Backing
Leading the funding round is Wellington Partners, a prominent European venture capital firm, alongside new investor Quadrille Capital. The round also welcomed participation from existing stakeholders such as Swisscom Ventures, Swisscanto, and the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund. The collective backing of these global players is a testament to the strategic significance of ANYbotics’ vision and the growing appetite for robotics solutions that address industrial-scale challenges.
“ANYbotics has consistently demonstrated that legged robots are not just science fiction, but a practical and scalable answer to the operational complexities faced by heavy industries.” — Dr. Markus Mühlbauer, Partner at Wellington Partners
This latest round brings ANYbotics’ total funding to over €170 million, positioning the Zurich-based firm among the best-funded robotics startups in Europe.
The ANYmal X: Engineering for Explosive Environments
Central to this funding announcement is the global launch of ANYmal X—the world’s first ex-proof legged robot certified for use in hazardous industrial environments. ANYmal X is engineered to operate autonomously in areas where explosive gases, dust, and other risks make traditional inspection both dangerous and inefficient. The robot’s design adheres to stringent ATEX and IECEx certifications, a critical requirement for deployment in oil & gas, chemical, and mining industries.
ANYmal X’s highly articulated, four-legged configuration grants it unprecedented mobility, allowing it to traverse stairs, narrow walkways, and uneven surfaces that are inaccessible to wheeled or tracked robots. Its sensor suite—featuring lidar, thermal and optical cameras, microphones, and gas detectors—enables comprehensive inspection and monitoring tasks in real time.
Key Features
- Autonomous Navigation: Advanced AI-driven pathfinding and obstacle avoidance, even in GPS-denied environments.
- Modular Payloads: Customizable sensor and tool packages tailored to industry-specific requirements.
- Remote Operation: Secure cloud-based control interface for operators worldwide.
- 24/7 Operations: Robust battery life and hot-swappable batteries for continuous uptime.
- Data Integration: Seamless connection to existing industrial systems and digital twins.
“We designed ANYmal X not just to survive in explosive environments, but to excel where humans cannot—collecting high-quality data and providing actionable insights for facility operators.” — Dr. Péter Fankhauser, Co-founder & CEO, ANYbotics
Industry Use Cases: From Oil Rigs to Power Plants
ANYbotics’ robots have already been deployed by industry leaders including Petrobras, Shell, BASF, and Siemens Energy. These deployments are not mere pilot projects; they represent active integration into operational workflows, a critical shift for industrial robotics.
Oil & Gas
On offshore platforms and refineries, ANYmal X autonomously inspects valves, gauges, and pipelines, reducing the need for human intervention in hazardous zones. The robot’s sensors detect gas leaks, corrosion, and anomalies, sending alerts in real time to control centers. By automating routine but risky inspections, companies can reduce downtime, prevent accidents, and lower operational costs.
Power Generation
In power plants, the robot navigates turbine halls and boiler rooms, monitoring temperature gradients, pressure levels, and structural integrity. Integration with digital twins enables predictive maintenance, minimizing unexpected outages and extending asset lifespans.
Chemical Manufacturing
ANYmal X thrives in environments where chemical exposure, dust, and confined spaces pose severe risks. Its ability to precisely measure and map environmental data supports rigorous compliance with safety regulations, while its persistent presence ensures that even subtle changes are captured over time.
Broader Implications for Industrial Automation
The adoption of autonomous legged robots is more than an incremental improvement; it represents a paradigm shift in how critical infrastructure is managed. Unlike drones or stationary sensors, legged robots can interact with complex environments, adapt to changing conditions, and make real-time decisions based on sensor input and machine learning algorithms.
For industrial operators, the implications are profound:
- Workforce Safety: Robots take on the most hazardous tasks, reducing human exposure to injury or toxic substances.
- Operational Efficiency: Continuous monitoring and instant anomaly detection streamline maintenance and operations.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Rich, high-frequency data enables predictive analytics, optimizing asset management and reducing unplanned downtime.
- Regulatory Compliance: Automated reporting and traceability enhance transparency and facilitate audits.
“We are witnessing the dawn of an era where intelligent machines not only work alongside humans but extend our reach into domains previously deemed too dangerous or inaccessible.”
Technology and Research: The Science Behind ANYbotics
The roots of ANYbotics trace back to ETH Zurich, one of Europe’s premier technical universities. The company’s founders, drawing from years of research in robotics locomotion and AI, have consistently pushed the boundaries of what mobile robots can do. Their work builds on advancements in dynamic balancing, real-time environmental mapping, and self-supervised learning, enabling ANYmal robots to adapt to complex, unpredictable terrain.
ANYmal X’s autonomy is powered by a combination of deep reinforcement learning and probabilistic planning algorithms. These technologies allow the robot to not only follow pre-programmed routes but also to respond intelligently to obstacles, shifting conditions, and mission updates. The company’s proprietary software stack integrates with enterprise asset management and SCADA systems, positioning the robots as part of the digital backbone of tomorrow’s industrial facilities.
Challenges in Industrial Robotics
The journey to industrial autonomy is not without obstacles. Rugged environments demand high levels of robustness, fault tolerance, and cyber-security. Battery technology, sensor fusion, and real-time communication remain areas of active research and development. ANYbotics’ success in field deployments is a reflection of its rigorous attention to these challenges, as well as its commitment to iterative improvement and user feedback.
“What excites me most is seeing our robots solve real-world problems—every deployment teaches us something new about the frontier between man, machine, and environment.” — Dr. Jonas Buchli, Co-founder, ANYbotics
Global Expansion: Scaling for a Connected World
With the new capital, ANYbotics is poised to scale its operations globally. The company plans to expand its commercial and support teams across North America, Asia, and the Middle East, targeting regions where heavy industry and stringent safety requirements intersect. Strategic partnerships with system integrators and industrial automation providers will accelerate the integration of ANYmal X into diverse operational contexts.
Meanwhile, the investment will also fund further R&D, with a focus on software enhancements, payload development, and AI-driven analytics. The company’s roadmap includes improvements in fleet management, cloud-based data services, and interoperability with a growing ecosystem of industrial IoT platforms.
As the industrial landscape evolves, the role of intelligent, autonomous machines is set to become increasingly central. ANYbotics’ latest achievements not only reaffirm its leadership in the field of mobile robotics but also illuminate the transformative potential of technology when thoughtfully applied to the world’s most demanding environments.
For a detailed overview of the funding round and product launch, see the original article at TechCrunch: Swiss robotics leader ANYbotics raises €127M.
