NexCOBOT, which exhibited at the Robotics Summit & Expo, provides a range of controllers. Source: NexCOBOT
Humanoid robotics and physical AI developers are not only raising billions of dollars; they’re also getting acquired by big technology companies. This has implications for industrial adoption, according toJenny Shern, general manager of NexCOBOT.
For instance,Mobileye acquired Mentee Roboticsfor $900 million in January,Amazon bought Fauna Roboticsin March, and Metapicked upAssured Robot Intelligence in May.
“Beginning last year, our team got lots of requests from companies building legged robots, including quadrupeds and humanoids, as well as mobile manipulators,” Shern toldThe Robot Report. “Our controllers support traditional robots and these newer kinds of systems.”
NexCOBOT spun out ofNEXCOM Group‘s IoT Automation Solutions business unit in 2018. The New Taipei City, Taiwan-basedcompanyoffersmotion controllers, functionalsafetycontrollers, peripheral components, and design verification consulting services to robotics developers and manufacturers.
Do you expect to see moreacquisitions?
Shern:Acquisitions will certainly continue as robotics becomes increasingly important to major tech companies. Smaller robotics companies andstartupshave strong expertise in areas such as robot learning, perception, or autonomous control, while larger companies have the computing infrastructure, data resources and capital needed to scale those innovations.
As AI models continue to improve, acquiring these companies offers a faster path for “Big Tech” firms to streamline development and establish a position in what many see as the next phase of intelligent systems.
How is NexCOBOT doing in terms of its own funding?
Our priorities are entirely focused on scaling our open, functional safety robotic controllers, and fulfilling our strong backlog of global orders as we head into mass production.
While U.S. funding for physical AI and large rounds has increased, overall VC investment in early-stage companies has reportedly fallen. What does that mean for robotics developers and innovation?
Shern:This creates a more selective funding environment for robotics developers. Capital is still available for companies that demonstrate strong technical differentiation and a clear path to commercialization, but early-stage startups may experience greater pressure to validate their business models sooner. While that could slow the number of new entrants, it may also encourage more focused robotics innovation aimed at solving real operational challenges.