Industrial automation startup Path Robotics raises $300M in funding

Path Robotics Inc., a startup working to automate industrial welding workflows, today announced that it has raised $300 million in funding.

Georgian led the Series E round. It was joined by a consortium that included the venture capital arms of Yamaha Motor Co. and Navier Corp., one of South Korea’s largest tech firms. The investment gives Path Robotics a post-money valuation of $2.45 billion.

Welding tasks were historically difficult to automate because of a phenomenon called heat-induced metal distortion. It occurs when the heat produced by a welding torch warps the metal parts being joined together. Furthermore, the parts change shape again when they cool down. Those distortions are often unpredictable, which means they can throw off a robot arm that follows a static, pre-programmed welding plan.

There are also other sources of complexity. Mass produced metal parts that are based on the same blueprint often differ slightly because of manufacturing inconsistencies. In many cases, those variations make it necessary to adjust the way welding is performed. That isn’t always possible with traditional automation software.

Path Robotics has developed an AI model that addresses those challenges. Obsidian, as it’s called, is specifically designed to power industrial robots equipped with welding torches. The company says that the model can observe how metal parts change shape during the welding process and adjust its workflow accordingly. Furthermore, it automatically accounts for unexpected part variations.

Obsidian monitors the welding workflow using four lasers attached to the torch that it controls. The emitters illuminate the parts being welded together and the reflected light is captured by a pair of cameras. According to Path Robotics, Obsidian collects data not only during the welding process but also before and after each run.

The data powers an AI model that the company refers to as a weld world model. Path Robotics’ researchers use it to generate simulated welding projects. Those simulations, in turn, power Obsidian’s training workflow.

Path Robotics originally developed Obsidian for large robotic workstations called welding cells. In April, it introduced a four-legged robot called Rove that uses the model to automate shipbuilding tasks. The company says its software can also be used to make parts for vehicles, power generators, utility poles and other heavy equipment.

“We’re seeing accelerating demand from manufacturers that need to expand production capacity but can’t get there with traditional automation,” said Path Robotics co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Andy Lonsberry. “This capital allows us to scale our welding business alongside our customers while investing further in the data, compute, and model development needed to take on every task before and after welding.”

Photo: Path Robotics