Maven Robotics raises $100 million to build more warehouse robots

RoboStrategy, LocalGlobe, Vine Ventures and XTX Ventures backed the funding, Tim Fernholz reports for TechCrunch. Maven also plans to begin designing a fourth-generation platform.

Chief executive Hamza Derbas says Maven has as many as eight robots working 16 hours a day, with uptime of at least 99%. That follows two years of work with an initial consumer-goods customer and a few other partners.

From incoming boxes to shop orders

The robots use wheeled bases and two arms capable of lifting up to 30 kilograms. Their main task is mixed palletising: taking boxed goods arriving from factories and arranging combinations for individual shops.

Maven's approach connects warehouse management systems with physical handling, rather than treating a single robot movement as the whole job.

The next push involves collecting training data for materials handling, then moving towards automation and fabrication. Maven has developed pincer-like gloves through which people can demonstrate movements. Those broader tasks require manipulation capabilities beyond its current pallet work.