Gravis Robotics has raised $200 million in Series A funding from SoftBank to accelerate the global deployment of autonomous heavy construction machinery, describing the financing as the largest Series A in construction robotics history.
The company is targeting a construction industry facing rising demand from data centers, energy infrastructure, housing, transportation and climate-resilient projects while simultaneously confronting shortages of skilled workers.
Founded in 2022 as a spinout from ETH Zurich, Gravis is developing physical AI capable of operating heavy machinery in complex and constantly changing construction environments.
Rather than working only in predictable environments, Gravis’ systems must account for changing soil conditions, buried rocks, hydraulic resistance and the physical changes a machine itself creates while excavating.
The company trains its models through large-scale simulations that involve moving billions of cubic yards of virtual earth across different soil conditions.
Its world model also incorporates the performance characteristics of machinery from multiple manufacturers.
Gravis’ software operates through the Gravis Rack, an autonomous control system that can be installed across mixed equipment fleets.
The technology has been installed on equipment brands including Caterpillar, Case, Develon, John Deere, JCB, Hitachi, Sumitomo, Yanmar and Volvo.
The same core software can operate machines of significantly different sizes without requiring custom reprogramming for each model.
Gravis said its technology can deliver up to a 30% increase in jobsite productivity compared with peak manual operation while also improving safety.
Its platform ranges from AI-assisted manual operation through Gravis Copilot to fully autonomous machine operation.
In autonomous deployments, operators can step out of equipment cabs and supervise robotic fleets remotely.
Every Gravis-equipped machine can simultaneously act as a site sensor, collecting data for automated surveying and hazard mapping while construction work is being performed.
Gravis systems are already deployed with infrastructure companies across four continents.
The SoftBank financing will support a broader global rollout.
Gravis has also been selected to lead an $8 million U.K. government-backed CAM Pathfinder project with Flannery Plant Hire.
The project involves retrofitting excavators with Gravis Rack technology to give contractors access to autonomous equipment and support Britain’s stated $716 billion infrastructure pipeline.
KEY QUOTES:
“Skilled operators read the earth through subtle physical feedback, listening to the engine strain, sensing the machine vibration and reacting to hydraulic resistance. Our AI takes that same physical input and grounds it in machine telemetry, responding to varying subterranean forces and soil mechanics at microsecond speeds.”
“We didn’t try to simplify the world for our software; we gave it the physical intuition to handle real jobsites with precision that goes beyond what any human can feel from inside the cab.”
Dominic Jud, CTO and Co-Founder of Gravis Robotics
“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.”
“Our machines are built for the messy, unscripted reality of live jobsites that breaks traditional automation. With SoftBank’s backing, we can hire the best builders and engineers, put Gravis-powered autonomy on every major jobsite, and scale faster than anyone thought possible.”
Ryan Luke Johns, CEO and Co-Founder of Gravis Robotics
“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.”
Dai Sakata, Managing Director of SoftBank Group
