Gritt raises $34 million for robots that help build solar plants

In short: Gritt has raised $34 million to help construction crews install solar panels using AI-controlled machines.

What happened

Gritt, a robotics startup, says it has raised a total of $34 million and is coming out of “stealth,” meaning it had been working quietly before sharing details publicly. The latest funding was a $26 million Series A round led by Obvious Ventures, with Union Square Ventures and Active Impact Investment also participating.

The company’s first focus is solar power construction. Instead of building brand new robots, Gritt uses existing machines, like rented skidders and robotic arms made by companies such as Kawasaki. It then uses AI software to control them, so they can do specific jobs on a work site.

Right now, Gritt’s system unloads large glass solar panels, carries them to the installation area, and places them onto metal frames with very fine accuracy. Think of it like a careful forklift operator and a precise set of hands working together, but guided by software.

Gritt says it has two systems already working in the field. Its CEO, Puneet Puri, told TechCrunch that an eight-person crew might install about 800 panels a day, but the same crew with Gritt’s systems could install 3,000 to 4,000 panels per day.

The company also says it is contracted to help install 2.8 gigawatts of solar panels in the next 18 months, and that three of the top 10 US power construction companies are customers. It hopes to have 48 systems operating within the next six months.

Why it matters

Solar construction is growing fast, but there are not enough workers for all the jobs. If robots can take on repetitive and risky tasks, projects may finish sooner and with fewer injuries, especially when panels can weigh around 100 pounds.

Source: TechCrunch AI