A startup in Cambridge wants to solve a huge problem: teaching robots to grip by touch.
What’s happening:
- Cambridge, Massachusetts based startup Eka has successfully raised $150M USD in a new Series A financing round
Why it matters:
- Eka builds robotic grasping systems that use a force-sensing gripper paired with an artificial intelligence model trained in simulation
Going deeper:
- Eka has publicly stated that they are developing a vision-force-action model that adds in touch and force signals unlike typical vision-language-action models that are used to control robots
- Eka has successfully been able to handle 1,500 objects an hour with their force-sensing gripper in initial tests
- F-Prime and a16z co-led Eka’s new Series A financing round
