How One Startup Built a (Mostly) China-Free Robot

In recent years, investment in robotics startups has reached record highs, with both the number of deals and the amount of capital invested increasing, according to PitchBook. However, many of these companies heavily rely on Chinese suppliers for hardware. The Federal Communications Commission's ban on new human-like robots and advanced devices from China may negatively impact smaller robotics firms in the US. Yet, some businesses stand to benefit, including Ati Robotics.

Ati Robotics, founded in 2017, initially focused on developing motors for self-driving cars before shifting its attention to creating its own robots, such as tuggers and pallet movers. By developing its own hardware, Ati Robotics aimed to improve functionality, a decision that inadvertently limited their reliance on China. Ati currently operates several hundred robots in warehouses and factories, with over 50 customers in total. Their first humanoid, designed to move heavy bins, will be deployed later this year.

Chandra, Ati Robotics' CEO, explained that developing hardware is expensive, but their R&D facility in Bangalore, India, helped reduce labor costs. India's booming electric vehicle industry, particularly in the two-wheeler and three-wheeler segments, resulted in a supply chain for power profiles and characteristics similar to those used in robotics. By leveraging components and supply chains from India's EV industry, Ati Robotics was able to sustain its hardware development costs.

While Ati Robotics' 10,000-pound tugger and pallet mover use minimal parts from China, their humanoid robot still relies on some components sourced from China. However, they plan to reduce this dependence in the future. Chandra expressed hope that the recent ban on Chinese-made robots would encourage more companies to manufacture robots in the US and Europe.