The Windsor, Ontario-based Optimotive is expanding its roster of autonomous robots for the construction industry
As demand for autonomous construction solutions grows, a Windsor, Ontario-based company is expanding its fleet of robots to meet the evolving needs of the jobsite.
Optimotive recently raised USD$2 million in an oversubscribed seed round to expand its robotics portfolio.
Led by Version One Ventures and supported by Garage Capital and Newlab, the funding allows Optimotive to fulfill pre-orders received earlier this year and accelerate the company’s mission to automate the outdoor construction workforce.
The new funding will also help the company launch two new robots designed to enhance efficiency, data capture and safety at outdoor industrial sites.
“This funding not only moves us forward but also marks a significant shift in how industries like construction, mining and oil and gas approach automation,” said Scott Fairley, Founder and CEO of Optimotive.
“By reducing human exposure to dangerous and repetitive tasks, our robots are setting new standards for safety and efficiency.”
Optimotive’s autonomous robots aim to offer a more affordable and efficient solution to traditional methods while reducing the need for constant oversight often required for autonomous machines.
Each one of Optimotive’s robots are built, assembled and tested in Windsor.
“The construction industry wants to innovate, but they have a lack of automation tools available that are suitable for the built world — making it the perfect opportunity for us to build usable, scalable and affordable robotics solutions to tackle mundane tasks with immediate effect on projects,” said Patrick Thompson, Head of Growth at Optimotive.
Iris and Box
The company’s current robotic fleet includes Iris and Box, which began working on jobsites about 18 months ago, and have been deployed by several large construction companies including Ellis Don, Pomerleau and Borea.
Iris is a wheeled autonomous robot focused on automating data collection for customers operating in muddy, dusty and unpredictable environments.
Iris excels at capturing and delivering large-scale site data, such as inspections, 3D scans and 360-degree photos for BIM/VDC, quality assurance and quality control for the renewable energy sector, specifically solar.
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Box allows Iris to operate with minimal human interaction. Working as a central hub for autonomous robot operations, Box enables data uploads and serves as a reliable home base. Box includes an integrated charger, Starlink antenna, solar panels and more.
Together, they form the foundation of Optimotive’s growing ecosystem of automation solutions.
“As Optimotive continues to grow, the focus remains on delivering scalable, reliable and cost-effective solutions that meet the real-world needs of our customers,” Thompson said.
“This new funding allows us to expand our operations and accelerate the adoption of our technology across various industries. Our goal is to provide companies with the tools they need to adapt to a changing workforce and stay competitive.”
Mule & Scrubbles
Thanks to the funding, Optimotive will introduce the new Mule and Scrubbles robots to its lineup.
“At Optimotive, we’re defining what’s possible with outdoor automation,” Fairley said. “With Mule and Scrubbles, we’re making autonomous systems a vital part of daily operations in challenging outdoor environments.”
Mule is a four-wheel-based robotics platform used to move materials onsite, act as a mobile power station and can tow single-axle trailers. Mule will be available for testing in 2025.
Scrubbles is engineered to tackle site cleanup. The tracked autonomous cleaning robot will focus on clearing nails, small metal objects and debris on large scale jobs sites. Scrubbles is available to start testing immediately.
