Gravis Robotics, an innovative spinout from ETH Zurich, equips excavators with autonomous technology. A potential acquisition would mark SoftBank’s expansion from factory automation into the construction sector.
SoftBank is reportedly exploring a potential acquisition of Gravis Robotics, a Swiss startup specializing in retrofitting heavy construction machinery like excavators and diggers with advanced autonomy systems.
Details regarding the nature of the deal, including valuation and transaction structure, remain undisclosed, and talks appear preliminary with no certainty of a finalized agreement.
This move aligns with SoftBank’s strategic focus on robotics, following a rapid build-up of its portfolio over the past year. The conglomerate has been investing heavily in robotics firms, from an anticipated $800 million funding round for Agile Robots to smaller-scale investments in autonomy kits that upgrade existing equipment.
Revolutionizing Construction Machinery with Autonomous Kits
Founded in 2022 as a spinout from ETH Zurich’s Robotic Systems Lab, Gravis Robotics takes a unique approach by enhancing conventional heavy machinery rather than creating new robots from the ground up. Their retrofit kits integrate LiDAR sensors, high-resolution cameras, GNSS positioning, and hydraulic feedback systems, enabling excavators to autonomously perform tasks such as trenching, soil grading, and stockpile management.
According to Gravis, their technology can boost construction site productivity by approximately 30%, a significant efficiency gain in an industry grappling with labor shortages and rising costs.
Innovative Hardware and User Interface
The company’s hardware platform, known as Rack, works in tandem with Slate, a tablet-based interface that allows operators to seamlessly switch between manual and autonomous modes. Unlike traditional automation that follows rigid programming, Gravis’s system enables machines to “sense” soil conditions through hydraulic feedback, adapting dynamically to the environment.
Leadership and Expertise Driving Innovation
Gravis Robotics is led by CEO Ryan Luke Johns, an architect turned roboticist, alongside CTO Dominic Jud and co-founder Marco Hutter, a professor of robotics at ETH Zurich. Johns and Jud notably hold a Guinness World Record for constructing the largest robot-built dry-stone wall, underscoring the team’s blend of technical skill and creative problem-solving.
Funding and Market Presence
In November 2025, Gravis secured $23 million in Series A funding, co-led by IQ Capital and Zacua Ventures, with participation from Pear VC, Sunna Ventures, and construction giant Holcim. The startup currently operates autonomous machinery on active construction sites across seven countries.
Clients reportedly include major contractors such as Taylor Woodrow, which deployed the technology at Manchester Airport, plant rental company Flannery, and Holcim, which utilizes the system in quarry operations. These claims are based on company disclosures and have not been independently verified.
SoftBank’s Strategic Robotics Expansion
SoftBank’s interest in Gravis fits within a broader vision to integrate robotics into diverse physical work environments. Last October, SoftBank agreed to acquire ABB’s robotics division for $5.4 billion, a deal recently supported by a $1.75 billion loan syndicate.
Simultaneously, SoftBank is divesting from older robotics investments, such as selling its remaining stake in Boston Dynamics to Hyundai, while doubling down on emerging ventures.
Gravis would complement SoftBank’s existing investments, including leading Agile Robots’ 2021 funding round that propelled the Munich-based company to unicorn status, and a $500 million investment earlier in 2025 in Skild AI, which develops general-purpose robotic control models.
AI Meets Physical Automation
Masayoshi Son’s vision centers on maturing artificial intelligence software and pairing it with physical embodiments. SoftBank is reportedly preparing to launch a U.S.-based AI and robotics entity, tentatively named Roze, targeting a $100 billion valuation at IPO.
The global robotics investment landscape reflects this momentum, with funding more than doubling to $27.6 billion in 2025, highlighted by record-breaking rounds for companies like NEURA Robotics.
Why Autonomous Excavators Matter
While self-driving humanoid robots often capture headlines, autonomous construction machinery offers immediate practical benefits. The construction industry faces chronic shortages of skilled operators, and earthmoving tasks are repetitive, hazardous, and costly to staff.
By automating these functions, companies can improve safety, reduce labor dependency, and increase operational efficiency-critical factors as infrastructure projects accelerate worldwide.
Looking Ahead: From Humanoids to Heavy Machinery
Whether SoftBank proceeds with acquiring Gravis or continues exploratory discussions, the strategic direction is unmistakable. The company that once championed social humanoid robots like Pepper is now focusing on empowering machines that physically transform the world.
