Develops AI-controlled soft robotics manipulators for safe collaboration with humans
Embodied AI SA
Lausanne · Saint-SulpiceNew on Amplifa
About Embodied AI
Embodied AI SA is a robotics startup from Lausanne (Switzerland) that is developing Helix, the first commercial soft robotics manipulator. The system combines the safety of soft robotics with industrial precision and is based on a patented structure with independent stiffness control. The AI learns directly on-site by observing tasks, replicating them and adapting in real time – without modifications to existing infrastructure. The company was founded by robotics researchers from EPFL, TU Delft and the ETH environment (including Francesco Stella, Prof. Josie Hughes, Prof. Cosimo Della Santina); the research has been published in Nature npj Robotics. Target industries are collaborative food handling and lab automation. The first MVP was sold to MIT in 2024. Systems deployed: proprietary Helix manipulators with a soft outer skin, low inertia, compliant joints and high-frequency sensing.
- Site
- Lausanne, Switzerland
- Processes
- Soft robotics manipulators (Helix) with AI-controlled human-robot collaboration, Lab automation / robotics solutions, Soft robotics manipulators (Helix product), AI models for human-robot interaction, On-site learning / adaptation of the AI directly on location, Piloting and site assessment without infrastructure modifications
- Materials
- Soft robotics manipulator Helix, On-Site Learning, Safe-by-Design
- Founded
- 2025
- Employees
- 11–50
- Industries
- Robotics, Lab Automation, Food Handling / Food Processing, Automation
- 01
Soft robotics R&D
- 02
AI model development for human-robot interaction
- 03
Prototype construction (Helix)
- 04
On-site learning & commissioning
- 05
Piloting and scaling at the customer
Technologies & Processes
Soft robotics manipulator Helix
Soft manipulator with compliant joints and independent stiffness control for safe human-robot collaboration.
On-Site Learning
AI learns tasks directly at the deployment site by observing, replicating and adapting in real time.
Safe-by-Design
Soft outer skin, low inertia, compliant joints and high-frequency sensing enable operation without safety fencing.
Locations
Lausanne
CHHeadquarters
- Helix soft robot manipulator
Saint-Sulpice
CHHeadquarters (according to startup.ch)
Systems & Applications
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soft robotics manipulators (Helix) with AI-controlled human-robot collaborationAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Lab automation / robotics solutionsAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
1 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soft Robot Manipulator | Embodied AI Helix | – | – | – | Lausanne, Switzerland |
Additional services
Reference customers
History
- 2023
Founding year according to GraphIQ (deviating information)
- 2024
First MVP sold to MIT (15.08.2024, as Helix Robotics)
- 2025
Venture Kick funding CHF 150,000 as Helix Robotics (30.01.2025); founding as Embodied AI SA according to startup.ch (July 2025)
- 2026
IMD Startup Competition, ESA BIC Switzerland, Google DeepMind Accelerator, VivaTech; launch with an international investor consortium (17.09.2026)