Autonomy technology for excavators: retrofit kit, teleoperation and autonomous earthmoving

Gravis Robotics

Zurich (HQ) · Austin, US · Oxford, UKNew on Amplifa

Origin

Award

USD 23 million financing (2025)Financing

USD 200 million Series A (2026)Financing

About Gravis Robotics

Gravis Robotics is a spin-off of ETH Zurich (Robotic Systems Lab) with almost a decade of research experience in autonomy for construction machinery. The company develops the physics AI that turns standard excavators into autonomous robots: the Gravis RACK retrofits existing construction machines with sensors and an intuitive touchscreen control. The services range from Advanced Teleoperation and Semi-Autonomy to Full Autonomy, up to autonomous excavation with terrain detection. The SLATE interface provides person detection and safety zones, while simulation-based training prepares the software. Gravis Robotics is headquartered in Zurich, with offices in Austin (USA) and Oxford (UK), and serves customers in the construction and earthmoving industries worldwide.

Site: Zürich
Processes: Retrofit of construction machinery with the Gravis RACK (sensors, touchscreen control), Autonomous excavating / autonomous excavation, Advanced Teleoperation, Semi-Autonomy, Full Autonomy, Person detection / safety zones (SLATE interface), Simulation-based training of the software
Materials: Gravis RACK, SLATE Interface, Autonomy Software
Industries: Construction industry, Earthmoving/Earthworks, Heavy construction machinery, Construction Robotics

01
Retrofit conception
02
Hardware (Gravis RACK, sensors, touchscreen)
03
Software development (perception, autonomy)
04
Simulation-based training
05
Deployment on the construction site
06
Operation & monitoring

Technology & Processes

RACK

Gravis RACK

Retrofit hardware with sensors and touchscreen control for existing construction machinery.

SLATE

SLATE Interface

Control interface for teleoperation and supervision with person detection and safety zones.

AUTO

Autonomy Software

Terrain-aware autonomous excavation with up to 30 % higher throughput.

Locations

Zurich

Headquarters

Austin

Office

Oxford

Office

Products

**Gravis RACK**Retrofit kit · Construction industry

**Autonomous Excavator**Autonomy solution · Earthmoving

Inside the production

Autonomous earthmoving with Gravis Robotics

Robotic Intelligence for Heavy Construction

Gravis Robotics accelerates global growth

Industries

Construction industryEarthmoving/EarthworksHeavy construction machineryConstruction Robotics

Additional services

Retrofit of construction machinery with the Gravis RACK (sensors, touchscreen control)Autonomous excavating / autonomous excavationAdvanced TeleoperationSemi-AutonomyFull AutonomyPerson detection / safety zones (SLATE interface)Simulation-based training of the software

Reference customers

Cemex Ventures (reference via Construction Startup Challenge, Gold Winner 2025)

History

Gründung
ETH Zurich spin-off from the Robotic Systems Lab with almost a decade of research experience in autonomy for construction machinery
2025
Gold winner of the Cemex Ventures Construction Startup Challenge
2025
USD 23 million financing to expand into the UK, US and EU, plus several landmark deals
2026
USD 200 million Series A financing round for Construction Autonomy