Olis Robotics grabs $4.1m funding for remote robot control solutions

Olis Robotics, renowned for its cutting-edge remote monitoring, control, and troubleshooting solutions for industrial robots, successfully secured $4.1 million in a funding round spearheaded by PSL Ventures. Other contributors in this round comprise Tectonic Ventures, Ubiquity Ventures, and notable angel investors, including robotics trailblazer Daniel Theobald of MassRobotics and Vecna Robotics.

Olis Connect: Revolutionizing Industrial Robot Remote Management

Central to Olis Robotics‘ suite of products is the ‘Olis Connect’ system. It stands out by fostering remote monitoring, control, and diagnostics of industrial robots. This groundbreaking technology enhances Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), thereby counteracting expensive robot downtimes.

Fredrik Ryden, Olis Robotics’ CEO, highlighted the grave implications of robot downtime for sizable plants, emphasizing the immediate necessity for robust remote tools. With the design rooted in user simplicity and efficiency, the technology promises tangible benefits.

T.A. McCann from PSL Ventures, echoing these sentiments, acknowledged the growing demand for secure remote monitoring, diagnostics, and control solutions in the face of escalating automation adoption. He applauded Olis Robotics’ innovative system which holds the potential to be incorporated in both contemporary and older automation, hinting at a dynamic investment landscape.

Olis Robotics’ innovation: Bridging the gap in remote robot monitoring with $4.1m funding. Photo courtesy of Business Wire.

Universal Integration and User-Friendly Controls

The unique feature of Olis Connect is its browser-based control, housed in an edge-hosted PC compatible with both contemporary and traditional robot arms and cells. Demonstrating brand versatility, Olis Robotics currently supports robots from Universal Robots and FANUC. This covers roughly 20% of the over 3.5 million industrial robots globally. The recent infusion of funds is aimed at extending support for more robot brands and fortifying collaborations with robot system integrators in North America.

Once Olis’ device is aptly configured, it provides users with comprehensive remote access to their automated systems from any browser-enabled device. The system promptly alerts users in case of robot malfunctions via a secure connection, bypassing the cloud. This becomes essential, especially in the current industrial cybersecurity scenario. Additionally, Olis Connect empowers users to execute error recovery actions remotely, thus minimizing downtime.

With three cameras embedded, the system provides users with constant monitoring of the entire robotic cell, allowing 24/7 evaluation of vital metrics and instant video playback for error analysis.

Safety Remains a Priority

Ensuring user and equipment safety, Olis Connect has been engineered to offer remote access without compromising the robot’s intrinsic safety protocols.

Originating as a spinoff from the University of Washington, Olis Robotics has its roots deep in Seattle. Their innovative telerobotic solutions, optimized for industrial automation, are outcomes of collaborative R&D endeavors with giants like the US Navy and NASA.