Thomas Unise
Beijing-based robotics company Galbot (Galaxy General Robot Co.) has raised over $300 million in its latest funding round, bringing its total funding to $800 million and valuing the company at $3 billion. Founded just last year in May 2023, the company has quickly established itself in the growing mobile manipulator robot market.
Galbot’s Technology and Approach
Galbot distinguishes itself through its full-stack in-house development approach, combining:
- Hundreds-of-billion-scale high-quality datasets
- Embodied foundation models
- Custom robotic hardware
The company employs a unique training methodology that uses simulated synthetic action data sets for pre-training and real data for post-training, enabling rapid iteration of embodied large model technology.
The G1 Robot and Its Applications
Galbot’s flagship product is the G1, a mobile manipulator featuring a human-like torso, two arms, and a mobile base. The robot is designed for various applications:
- Warehouse operations: inventory, replenishment, delivery, and packaging
- Healthcare settings: patient room assistance, pharmacy tasks, and hospital guidance
- Retail: powering the fully autonomous Galbot Store system across 30+ Chinese cities
The company reports that its robots have demonstrated stable 24/7 operations for over a year in multiple warehouse locations and claims to have secured orders for thousands of units from partners including CATL, Bosch, Toyota, and Hyundai.
The Rise of Mobile Manipulators
Galbot is part of a growing trend in robotics that favors semi-humanoid mobile manipulators over fully humanoid robots. These designs offer flexibility similar to humanoids while maintaining stability with wheeled bases. Other companies in this space include:
- Kinisi Robotics with its KR1 dual-armed robot
- RoboForce’s Titan for outdoor environments
- UK-based Humanoid’s HMND 01 Alpha for industrial facilities
- Sunday Robotics and Weave Robotics focusing on home applications
- Established players like Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR) with its MC600 combining AMR and collaborative robot arms
Future Plans
With its new funding, Galbot plans to:
- Scale deployments across industries
- Develop new technologies
- Expand its global reach beyond China
The investment round included backers from China, Singapore, and the Middle East, signaling international interest in the company’s approach to practical robot deployment.
Conclusion
Galbot’s rapid growth illustrates the increasing commercial viability of mobile manipulator robots as alternatives to fully humanoid designs. By combining AI foundation models with practical robotic hardware, the company has quickly established itself as a significant player in the industrial and commercial robotics market, particularly in China. The substantial funding suggests strong investor confidence in both Galbot’s technology approach and the broader market potential for semi-humanoid robots in various commercial applications.
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