Inbolt has raised $12.5 million for software that uses 3D vision and AI to guide industrial robot arms. Shift4Good led the round, joined by Bridges Climate Transition Partners and existing investors BNP Paribas Développement and Ora Global. The Paris-based company has now raised about $34 million.
A 3D camera mounted on the robot captures the work station in real time. Inbolt’s software uses that view to update the robot’s path, allowing it to work on parts that are out of position or moving along the production line. The software can be trained on a part’s CAD model in minutes, according to Inbolt.
The system runs on FANUC, ABB, KUKA, Yaskawa, Comau and Universal Robots arms. It can also be added to existing production lines without replacing the installed equipment.
At a Stellantis engine plant in Trenton, Michigan, Inbolt’s system guides a robot that tightens bolts on V6 engines. The robot’s missed-bolt rate fell to 0.24% from 2.55%, according to Assembly Magazine. Stellantis saw a ROI within 12 months.
Inbolt says its technology is now deployed on more than 200 robots across more than 100 factories. Customers include Bosch, Beko, Flex, Ford and Toyota.
CarbonSix raised $40 million this summer for factory robots that learn tasks from human demonstrations.
Inbolt plans to use the new funding to expand in the US, where it opened a Detroit office this year, and Asia-Pacific. It also plans to enter data centers and electronics manufacturing, two new markets for the company.
