Swiss startup Gravis Robotics, which builds AI models to automate heavy construction equipment, has raised $200m in Series A funding from Japanese tech giant SoftBank. The round brings the company's valuation to $1bn post-money. The company raised a $23m round last year from IQ Capital, Armada Investment Group, Zacua Ventures and Holcim.

The startup spun out of Swiss university ETH Zurich in 2022. It develops AI models to power heavy industrial vehicles and machinery on construction sites, for tasks like driving, digging and excavating. Gravis Robotics says it trains its models with simulated experiences in which the systems move billions of cubic yards of virtual earth, enabling a precise understanding of how machines interact with the ground.

The company offers software ranging from a copilot for operators, which includes real-time 3D guidance and hazard detection, all the way to full autonomy. The systems deliver up to a 30% increase in jobsite productivity. Cofounder and CEO Ryan Luke said the company's machines are built for the messy, unscripted reality of live jobsites.

The system can be retrofitted on existing machines, and Gravis Robotics is working with dozens of construction brands globally, including Caterpillar, Hitachi and Volvo.