Eka Robotics has raised $150 million in a Series A funding round at a $1.45 billion post-money valuation to develop AI-powered robotic hands capable of handling objects with greater speed and precision. The startup combines force-sensitive grippers with a new AI model that allows robots to adjust their movements based on physical contact rather than relying solely on visual information.
The funding round announced on October 20 was co-led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and F-Prime, with participation from Obvious Ventures, E14 Fund, MFV Partners, Bison Ventures, Glasswing Ventures, and Samsung Next. Eka was founded by MIT professor Pulkit Agrawal and former Google DeepMind researcher Tuomas Haarnoja, who previously worked together on reinforcement learning research.
Eka Develops Robots That Learn Through Physical Contact
Eka’s technology uses a vision-force-action (VFA) model that combines visual information, force measurements, and robotic movements. Unlike conventional vision-language-action models, which primarily interpret visual inputs and instructions, Eka’s system uses force feedback to adjust how robots grasp and manipulate objects.
The company developed a flexible robotic gripper equipped with additional force sensors, allowing robots to handle delicate objects without crushing them. During demonstrations, the system successfully picked up items including raspberries and adapted to unfamiliar objects without requiring additional training.
Eka claims its robots can handle approximately 1,500 objects weighing up to 1 kilogram per hour, compared with around 600 objects for human workers. The company also reports a grasping success rate exceeding 95%.
The model is trained using reinforcement learning in physics-based simulations, generating thousands of hours of robotic experience within minutes. This approach allows robots to practice different movements and physical interactions without relying entirely on human demonstrations.
Eka Begins Industrial Testing With Manufacturing Partners
The company is currently testing its technology with industrial customers on pick-and-place operations and wire manipulation. Its initial applications focus on tasks requiring precise object handling and repeated movements across manufacturing environments.
According to Agrawal, Eka’s robotic gripper costs less than $1,000 and is rated for approximately 5 million operating cycles. The company aims to increase durability to 20 million cycles, matching the performance expectations of conventional industrial robotic arms.
Kris Hauser, a robotics professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, told TechCrunch that Eka’s system demonstrated an unusual ability to adapt to different objects and retry unsuccessful movements. However, he cautioned that the technology still needs to prove its reliability during prolonged industrial operations.
Hauser also questioned whether the model could support more complex manufacturing activities beyond picking and placing objects. Eka plans to use its latest funding to expand its AI training, improve robotic hardware, and increase customer deployments.
Featured image credits: Magnific.com
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