Gravis Robotics Raises $200M Series A from SoftBank for Autonomous Construction

Gravis Robotics has raised $200 million in Series A funding from SoftBank Group to scale its autonomous heavy machinery technology across construction sites globally.

Spun out of ETH Zurich in 2022, the Zurich-based company develops physical AI for earthmoving equipment. Its Gravis Rack retrofit system combines autonomous control hardware and software to add intelligence to existing excavators and other construction machinery.

Ryan Luke Johns, co-founder and CEO of Gravis Robotics, stated:

“To build the future, we need to change the world, literally. Whether we are building housing, modernizing energy grids, or scaling data centers, every project starts with moving earth. That foundational work has been the bottleneck slowing down the entire built environment.”

Gravis trains its models using simulated experiences designed to bridge the sim-to-real gap. The company says its software processes machine telemetry and physical feedback to adapt to changing soil conditions, subterranean forces, and hydraulic resistance during real-world operations.

The Gravis Rack is designed for mixed fleets and has been installed on machinery from Caterpillar, Case, Develon, John Deere, JCB, Hitachi, Sumitomo, Yanmar, Volvo, and other manufacturers. Gravis claims its learning-based models can improve productivity by up to 30% compared with peak manual operations.

Its software supports a range from AI-assisted manual operation through Gravis Copilot to full autonomy. Machines equipped with the system can also perform surveying and hazard mapping while operating.

Dai Sakata, managing director of SoftBank Group, stated:

“Physical AI is central to SoftBank’s vision for the next phase of AI. Gravis is bringing AI-powered autonomy to construction, helping build smarter, more efficient infrastructure, and we look forward to supporting its mission.”

Gravis has deployed systems across four continents and was recently selected to lead an $8 million U.K. government-backed CAM Pathfinder project with Flannery Plant Hire.