Vinod Khosla joins Serve board with Vayu acquisition, Saga raises €9.5 mln, and more
Daily brief on news from the world of autonomous mobile robots.
Saga Robotics raises €9.5 million to develop chemical-free robots
Saga Robotics, an Oslo-based agri-tech startup, has raised €9.5 million ($10.3 million) in fresh funding to accelerate the commercial expansion of its Thorvald autonomous farming robots in the UK and US. The round was led by Nysnø Climate Investments alongside both existing and new investors. Thorvald robots use UV-C light to control crop diseases without chemicals, now serving 20 percent of the UK strawberry market and 1,300 acres of US vineyards. The funding will drive further scaling and sustainable agriculture initiatives.
Mujin launches partner programme with integrators to drive adoption
Mujin, a robotics leader for logistics and manufacturing, has launched a partner programme with top automation integrators to accelerate adoption of its MujinOS platform in North America. Partners—including Applied Manufacturing Technologies, Convergix, and Honeywell Intelligrated—will use MujinOS to simplify complex robotics deployments and unlock higher productivity. MujinOS’s digital twin eliminates manual coding, enabling rapid automation for palletizing, depalletizing, and more. Integrators gain hands-on training and support, enhancing flexibility and speed for advanced industrial automation.
IFR paper highlights diverse global strategies towards humanoids
Humanoid robots are poised to enhance manufacturing, logistics, and services, complementing existing robots rather than replacing them, according to the International Federation of Robotics. The US leads in industrial AI with tech investments, China emphasizes service-oriented and supply chain-driven strategies, Japan pioneers social robots for ageing populations, and Europe focuses on ethics and collaboration. While humanoids offer adaptability and dexterity, widespread household adoption remains distant, with practical roles prioritized worldwide.
Serve Robotics acquires Vayu targeting $1 last-mile deliveries
Serve Robotics has acquired Vayu Robotics to advance AI foundation model-driven autonomy for sidewalk delivery, paying 1,696,069 shares upfront with potential milestones and warrants. The deal integrates Vayu’s advanced AI simulation technology with Serve’s real-world delivery data, aiming to boost last-mile delivery speed, safety, reliability, and enter new markets. Noted technologist Vinod Khosla will join Serve’s advisory board. Serve targets reducing costs to $1 per delivery and accelerating wide-scale urban robot deployment.
