Home / Technology / Skild AI Buys Zebra's Robotics Unit
Skild AI Buys Zebra's Robotics Unit
16 Apr
Summary
- Skild AI acquired Zebra's robotics automation division.
- The deal aims to integrate Zebra's fleet management software.
- Zebra's previous acquisition of Fetch Robotics is being reversed.
Skild AI, a prominent startup focused on developing advanced software for robot learning, has announced its acquisition of Zebra Technologies' robotics automation division. This acquisition is set to enhance Skild's capabilities by integrating Zebra's fleet management software, allowing for the simultaneous control of numerous robots, including the operation of entire warehouses. This represents a significant departure from traditional robot programming, which typically focuses on single tasks.
This strategic integration aims to tackle the inefficiencies caused by the fragmented nature of current warehouse automation solutions. Skild AI's co-founder and CEO, Deepak Pathak, highlighted the opportunity to redefine how humans and diverse robotic systems collaborate. The sale marks a strategic shift for Zebra Technologies, which had acquired Fetch Robotics for $290 million in 2021, a move now being reversed due to high costs associated with its standalone autonomous mobile robots division.
Founded in 2023, Skild AI has experienced rapid growth, recently securing approximately $1.4 billion in a funding round led by SoftBank Group Corp., which valued the company at over $14 billion. The acquisition is expected to enable robots to perform more complex tasks with increased dexterity, improving capabilities such as object manipulation.
