Autonomous excavators are here! 🤯 Construction might become one of the biggest autonomy markets nobody talks about yet. 🚧 I recently visited @GravisRobotics during my RoboTour in Zurich, and had a chance to experience real autonomy,and even to operate the excavator myself. Gravis Robotics takes standard excavators and turns them into autonomous or remotely operated machines through a retrofit kit packed with LiDAR, cameras, positioning systems, and onboard compute. The interesting part is the workflow. Instead of hardcoding every motion, operators can define tasks like trench digging or material loading directly from a tablet interface. And the autonomy scales progressively: Basic guidance → assisted operation → remote control → full autonomy. That flexibility matters because construction sites are messy, dynamic, and constantly changing. What’s in for the builders? Faster cycles. More precise work. Fewer workers exposed to dangerous conditions. Instead of one operator per machine, you move toward one operator supervising multiple machines, potentially remotely. And when you combine labor shortages, rising infrastructure demand, data center construction, and pressure on project timelines…this starts making a lot of economic sense. Construction represents roughly 13% of global GDP, yet it’s still one of the least digitized industries on the planet. Which is exactly why robotics here could become massive. 🔥 ~~ ♻️ Join the weekly robotics newsletter, and never miss any news → ziegler.substack.com

Is Zurich really the capital of robotics in Europe? 🇪🇺 Well, if you look at their robotics ecosystem, it seems true! 👀 SPOILER: Zurich robotics ecosystem is that BIG, that describing it I exceeded X post standard length (some companies will be described in the comment section). Zurich is a great place to start a robotics company because everything you need is close and well connected. It has top engineering talent, mainly from @ETH Zürich, one of the best robotics and AI universities in the world. Not to mention great student initiatives like @ethroboticsclub. Many successful robotics startups come directly from ETH research. Also, the presence of Disney Research and RAI Institute helps to be on the frontier of physical AI. The city also has strong industry and customers nearby. Switzerland is home to global companies in robotics, manufacturing, and automation, such as ABB Robotics, which often work with startups as partners or early customers. Zurich offers good access to funding, especially for deep-tech and robotics. Investors here are used to long development cycles and complex hardware products. 💰 Finally, Zurich is known for stability and quality of life. It is safe, well organized, and centrally located in Europe, making it easier to attract international talent and scale globally. Listing some of the Zurich-based companies here: → @anybotics -  builds autonomous four-legged robots for industrial inspection and maintenance, and has raised $ 150M in funding. → @GravisRobotics - develops AI-powered autonomy systems that turn heavy construction machines into self-driving robots, and has raised ~$27M in total funding. → Verity - builds autonomous indoor drones for warehouse inventory tracking and has raised ~$60M in funding. → @mimicrobotics - develops AI-powered robotic picking systems that enable fast, reliable manipulation and handling for industrial operations. → @HexagonAB - builds industrial humanoid robots that combine AI, sensor fusion, and spatial intelligence to automate complex tasks. → @microagi - builds data infrastructure and AI systems that capture large-scale real-world human work to train robots and enable humanoids to learn complex physical tasks. → @duatic_ag - develops advanced human-scale robotic arms and mobile manipulation systems. → @rivr_tech - builds autonomous Physical AI-powered wheeled-legged robots for last-mile doorstep delivery (acquired by Amazon) → @FlexionRobotics - builds the autonomous AI “brain” and software stack for humanoid robots, and has raised about $50 M in funding. → @voliro69689 - builds autonomous aerial robots for industrial inspection and maintenance and has raised ~$23 M in Series A funding. → @loki_robotics - builds autonomous robots that clean complex real-world environments like commercial restrooms and shared spaces I'm aware that there might be some companies missing! ~~ ♻️ Join the weekly robotics newsletter, and never miss any news → ziegler.substack.com

@HuscoIntl and @GravisRobotics earn Contractors’ Choice honors at @conexpoconagg. These two standout companies captured top recognition at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026. Learn how their innovations are shaping the future of technology 🔻 servicetruckmagazine.com/new… #TruckingIndustry

The results are in ... the #CONEXPOCONAGG2026 Next Level Awards Contractors' Choice winners are: 🏆 Equipment: @HuscoIntl GenSteer™ 🏆 Technology: @GravisRobotics Gravis Rack

Better together. 🤝 Starting from Athens last Christmas we did the same in Zurich. This time the crowd was massive. More than 400 attendees and many from around the world 🌍 joined us. Organizing yesterday’s Zurich Robotics Meetup with my friend @_dario_b_ and TheRoboticsClub was a highlight of February. We started this with a simple goal: to bring the local robotics community closer together. It became bigger than we expected 😅 It wouldn’t have been possible without our entertaining guests Marco Hutter from ETH Zürich, Edo Jelavić from @GravisRobotics , Eris Dhionis Sako from @Duatic , Giorgio Valsecchi from @RIVR, Manuel Yves Galliker , Dario Bellicoso from RAI Institute , and myself (😂) from @BotaSystems . @leggedrobotics Lab Alumni sent a message to how a strong robotics community looks like. Seeing the deep-dive technical conversations and the new connections made over drinks made all the planning worth it. Stay tuned and see how the Zurich Robotics community will create an impact and add socioeconomic value. If you missed this one, don't worry—we’re just getting started. Swipe left to see some highlights from the night! 📸

🎙 In this special episode of the EU-Startups #Podcast, we kick off a five-part interview series recorded in partnership with #Leonard, the innovation and foresight platform of the @VINCI Group, during their Launch Day in #Paris 🎙 This first interview in the series features Ryan Luke Johns, CEO of @GravisRobotics eu-startups.com/2026/01/the-…

Is Zurich really the Silicon Valley of robotics? Well, if you look at their robotics ecosystem, it seems true! Zurich is a great place to start a robotics company because everything you need is close and well connected. It has top engineering talent, mainly from ETH Zürich, one of the best robotics and AI universities in the world. Many successful robotics startups come directly from ETH research. Also, the presence of Disney Research and RAI Institute helps to be on the frontier of physical AI. The city also has strong industry and customers nearby. Switzerland is home to global companies in robotics, manufacturing, and automation, such as ABB Robotics, which often work with startups as partners or early customers. Zurich offers good access to funding, especially for deep-tech and robotics. Investors here are used to long development cycles and complex hardware products. 💰 Finally, Zurich is known for stability and quality of life. It is safe, well organized, and centrally located in Europe, making it easier to attract international talent and scale globally. Listing some of the Zurich-based companies here: → @anybotics -  builds autonomous four-legged robots for industrial inspection and maintenance, and has raised $150M (€127M ) in funding. → @GravisRobotics - develops AI-powered autonomy systems that turn heavy construction machines into self-driving robots, and has raised ~$27 M in total funding. → Verity - builds autonomous indoor drones for warehouse inventory tracking and has raised ~$60M in funding. → @mimicrobotics - develops AI-powered robotic picking systems that enable fast, reliable item handling for warehouse and logistics operations. → @BotaSystems - develops high-precision force-torque sensors and sensing software that give robots real-time tactile awareness for manipulation. → @duatic_ag - develops advanced human-scale robotic arms and mobile manipulation systems. → @rivr_tech - builds autonomous Physical AI-powered wheeled-legged robots for last-mile doorstep delivery and has raised about $22 M in seed funding. → @FlexionRobotics - builds the autonomous AI “brain” and software stack for humanoid robots, and has raised about $50 M in funding. → FORGIS - develops AI-powered edge software that makes industrial machines and factory systems autonomous and intelligent, and has raised ~€3.8 M (~$4.5 M) in pre-seed funding. → Voliro - builds autonomous aerial robots for industrial inspection and maintenance and has raised ~$23 M in Series A funding. → @7Srobotics - built AI-powered 3D vision navigation tech for autonomous mobile robots and was acquired by ABB Robotics in January 2024. → Tethys Robotics - builds autonomous underwater robots (hybrid ROV/AUVs) for automated inspection and subsea missions, and has raised a €3.5 M pre-seed round to scale its technology. → Embotech - develops Level 4 autonomous driving systems for industrial logistics and has raised about CHF 23.5 M (~$27 M) in confirmed Series B funding. → Ascento - builds autonomous outdoor security patrolling robots with AI for industrial sites and has raised about $4.3 M in pre-seed funding. → @Wingtra -  makes high-precision VTOL aerial mapping and surveying drones and has raised $20M-$25M in Series B/B1 funding. → @auterion - builds a common AI-enabled operating system and software stack to power and coordinate autonomous drone and robotic fleets, and has raised a $130 M Series B to scale its platform. → Loki Robotics - builds autonomous robots that clean complex real-world environments like commercial restrooms and shared spaces, and has raised about $1.6 M in pre-seed funding. → Nautica Technologies - develops autonomous underwater robots that clean and inspect ship hulls to improve fuel efficiency and sustainability, and has raised about $4 M in seed funding. I'm aware that there might be some companies missing, and the map is not completed! ~~ ♻️ Join the weekly robotics newsletter, and never miss any news → ziegler.substack.com

Gravis Robotics (@GravisRobotics) secures USD 23 million to scale autonomous construction globally 🌍 venturelab.swiss/Gravis-Robo… @ETH spin-off and former Top100 Swiss Startups ranker Gravis Robotics has raised USD 23 million in a round co-led by IQ Capital and @ZacuaVentures to accelerate expansion across the UK, US and EU. 🚀 Gravis’ retrofit kits turn excavators and loaders into autonomous, AI-driven machines that adapt to real ground conditions, boosting output by 30%, reducing rework and improving safety. Its Gravis Slate tablet fits seamlessly into construction workflows, enhancing both manual and autonomous operations. Already working with major players such as @morgansindall, @Holcim, @TaylorWoodrow1, and HD @Hyundai_Global, Gravis is proving its impact on sites worldwide. 📈 The new funding, joined by Pear VC, Imad Ventures, Sunna Ventures, Armada Investment, and Holcim, will drive global rollout, team growth, and expanding partnerships with OEMs, contractors and dealers.? Led by co-founders Ryan Luke Johns and Dominic Jud, Gravis is rapidly shaping the future of autonomous construction. #TOP100SSU #SwissStartups

AI & Robotics Highlights This Week Here are some of the most interesting and widely‑talked about developments in AI & robotics globally this week - Apptronik hits a $5 billion valuation amid robotics boom Apptronik (@Apptronik) the U.S. humanoid‑robotics startup, announced that its latest funding round pushed its valuation to roughly US$5 billion. (apptronik.com/) The company plans to scale production of its “Apollo” humanoid robots, aiming to move beyond prototypes toward mass deployment in warehouses, factories, and industrial settings. - Gravis Robotics raises US$23 million to automate construction machinery The Swiss‑based startup (@GravisRobotics) secured US$23 million to convert heavy construction equipment into autonomous, AI‑powered robots, aiming to address labor shortages in construction. (gravisrobotics.com/) This move reflects broader interest in applying robotics beyond factories into sectors like construction where heavy manual labor still dominates. - DeepMind / Google strengthens robotics push, new hire from legacy robotics firm signals deeper hardware AI integration Google’s DeepMind (@GoogleDeepMind) has recently hired Aaron Saunders a former executive from a major robotics company, Boston Robotics (with deep experience in robots like “Atlas/Spot”) to lead hardware engineering, a sign the company aims to build a deeper “brain body” robotics stack. This hire aligns with growing industry belief that general‑purpose AI robotics hardware synergy will define the next generation of practical robots. - Growing spotlight on “embodied AI” ambitions in China and beyond A recent analysis by Carnegie Endowment (@CarnegieEndow) argues that China and other global players view “embodied AI” (AI robotics operating in the physical world) as the next frontier, not just software or LLMs. Pavlo Zvenyhorodskyi and Scott Singer (@Scott_R_Singer) write that factories, manufacturing, logistics and real‑world automation are increasingly becoming the focus, rather than just “digital AI.” (carnegieendowment.org/resear…) - Warning: Government in China raises concerns over a possible “humanoid robotics bubble” The national authority in China cautioned that the rapid rise of humanoid‑robotics firms might be forming a “bubble”, pointing out that many new players lack concrete real‑world use cases. The concern is that an abundance of startups, funding and hype may not translate into sustainable value, a reminder that “robotics reality” still lags behind “robotics hype.” - Report: Global robotics market for “humanoid & embodied AI” predicted to surge by 2032 According to a recent market‑forecast report, the humanoid & embodied‑AI robotics market is projected to grow from a few billions today to tens of billions USD by 2032, with a CAGR ~29.5%. This forecast underpins many of the current funding and startup activities, investors seem convinced “real robots” will become widespread. - Industrial robots and automation gaining adoption beyond traditional sectors A 2025 robotics‑industry report indicates that AI‑driven and collaborative robots (including mobile and humanoid types) are increasingly deployed across sectors, automotive, electronics, logistics, healthcare, even construction.

Proud to announce the most promising Swiss Robotics Startups of 2025, picked by a panel of 100 leading investors and industry experts 🔬 top100startups.swiss/The-7-m… Discover the 7 Robotics Startups that impressed the Top100 Swiss Startup Award Jury in 2025: 🔹 Tethys Robotics, #6 🔹 RIVR Technologies, #15 🔹 @GravisRobotics, #26 🔹 RoBoa, #28 🔹 Nautica Technologies, #37 🔹 Flink Robotics, #44 🔹 @mimicrobotics, #59 Discover the Robotics Startups and all other startups in the Top100 Swiss Startup Magazine 2025: top100startups.swiss/publica… 🔗 #TOP100SSU #SwissStartups #Innovation #Robotics #StartupEcosystem

Not your usual robotics company: @GravisRobotics Ever seen an excavator load a truck without anyone touching the controls? Nope? Autonomous excavation: Heavy machinery, automated. This. Is. Crazy.

Taywood trials autonomous excavator theconstructionindex.co.uk/n… #autonomousexcavator #autonomousvehicles #GravisRobotics #north

HD #HyundaiXiteSolution, owner of #HyundaiInfracore & its #DEVELON brand; & @GravisRobotics, have signed a deal with @Holcim outlining a partnership for development & commercialisation of #autonomous tech & its deployment across Holcim's quarrying ops tinyurl.com/3sspe84k

The @GreaterZurich is fast emerging as the Silicon Valley of Robotics, and @innopark_zh is proud to be part of this dynamic ecosystem. #Robotics & #Mobility is one of our top three focus areas, and we are excited to be partnered with trailblazers in the field. Curious about the visionary community members driving the future of robotics and autonomous systems? Here are some highlights: AITHON Robotics: An aerial robot capable of perching and positioning for drilling operations on construction sites. @ascento_robot : An autonomous security patrolling robot. ForzaETH by Autonomous Racing Zürich: A 1:10 scale autonomous racing project. Our academic partners @ETH Zürich, @Empa_CH and @UZH_ch are especially active in advancing research and industrial solutions: @ETH Professor and Director of its @leggedrobotics , Marco Hutter, co-founded: @BotaSystems AG: Empowering robots with touch sensitivity through force-torque sensors. @GravisRobotics : Automating heavy machinery. @anybotics : Innovating in facility monitoring with automation and digitization. @ETH Professor of Dynamic Systems & Control, Raffaello D'Andrea, founded or co-founded: Kiva Systems (now Amazon Robotics): Mobile robotic fulfillment systems. Verity: Automated inventory management with self-flying warehouse drones. @UZH_ch Professor and Robotics Perception Group Director, Davide Scaramuzza, had his work featured multiple times on the cover of Nature Magazine for his autonomous racing drones, which have even outpaced World Champion drone pilots. He also co-founded Zurich Eye, which later became Facebook Zurich. Prof. Mirko Kovac Head of the Materials and Technology Center of Robotics at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (@Empa_CH ). He is also Director of the Aerial Robotics Laboratory at @imperialcollege London and Founder and Director, Laboratory of Sustainability Robotics at @EPFL. For an overview of many innovative projects, visit: greaterzuricharea.com/en/rob… Visit our Relationship Manager Fabienne Kiener at Swiss Robotics Day for more information about our innovative ecosystem and opportunities and offers for your company on our campus.

I saw something similar. This is cool.

attn: @Scobleizer you’ve probably already seen it, right?

oh awesome!! thanks savvy, great share!! I'm going to contact them! my background is in fully autonomous construction vehicles. thanks for the tag!!

That's right, we're coming for you, Troy

Pretty cool @elonmusk

I have extensive experience with Menzi excavators. I also have a lot of experience with automation. Have him reach out to me if he is looking to move forward with building a team!