Ati Motors Secures $20 Million for Global Expansion in Robotics
Ati Motors, an innovative player in the world of autonomous mobile robots (AMR), has successfully raised $20 million to fuel its ambitious global expansion plans. Based in India, this dynamic startup aims to leverage the growing demand for domestic manufacturing across the U.S., India, and Southeast Asia, as these regions strive to reduce their reliance on China.
India’s Bold Vision for Robotics Leadership
In 2023, the Indian IT ministry unveiled a visionary nationwide policy known as the National Strategy for Robotics. This strategy aspires to position India as a global robotics leader by 2030. Currently, India ranks as the seventh-largest robotics market, experiencing a remarkable 59% year-on-year growth in industrial robotics installations, with 8,500 units in 2023, according to the International Federation of Robotics. Despite this progress, India still trails behind giants like China, Japan, and the U.S.
“Our competitor is always the status quo, not really another robot,” said Saurabh Chandra, Founder and CEO of Ati Motors. “Typically, we are displacing manual operation or somebody driving a vehicle or often somebody pushing it by hands.”
– Saurabh Chandra
Innovative Robotics: A Peek Into Ati Motors’ Offerings
Since its inception seven years ago, Ati Motors has been at the forefront of robotic innovation with its manufacturing and R&D facility in Bengaluru. The company has developed seven distinct robots, two of which are currently undergoing testing and set to be available this quarter. These robots are adept at moving trolleys, bins, and pallets within factories or warehouses.
- Equipped with 3D lidar sensors for spatial awareness
- Capable of operating in harsh environments
- Adaptable to various flooring conditions
- Handles gradients, cracks, and oil spills with ease
“We do the full stack ourselves,” Chandra told TechCrunch. “That has been our USP that we are able to do complete multi-disciplinary engineering.”
The Future of Robotics and Interoperability
Ati Motors meticulously designs both the software and hardware for its robots in-house, including their sensor-fusion algorithms. Like many others in the industry, they rely on Nvidia’s Jetson platform for edge computing. Additionally, they offer dedicated fleet management software that ensures interoperability with other companies’ mobile robots.
“The future is such that millions of robots are going to go into factories. No one company is going to make all the millions of robots alone. And should we want to play with other people from day one? Yes,” said Chandra.
– Saurabh Chandra
Evolving Product Line and Market Penetration
Founded in February 2017, Ati Motors began its journey with a tugging robot but quickly expanded into pallet movers and lifters based on customer feedback and demand. The startup offers a flexible robots-as-a-service (RaaS) model that allows companies to lease its AMRs or purchase them outright.
Ati Motors proudly reports having deployed “hundreds” of its Sherpa robots across 40 manufacturers worldwide, including prominent names like Airbus, Ceat Tyres, Forvia, Hyundai, Samsung, and TVS Motor. Remarkably, 80% of its customer base is rooted in the automobile sector, with North America dominating its revenue streams. Consequently, the startup plans to strengthen its presence by expanding into Detroit.
Funding Boost from Series B Investors
The recent all-equity Series B funding round was co-led by Walden Catalyst Ventures and NGP Capital. Ati Motors also received support from existing investors such as True Ventures, Exfinity Venture Partners, Athera Venture Partners, and Blume Ventures.
