OSU spinout Agility Robotics has raised $8m for robotic legs that are set to enhance the usefulness of robots for military or courier purposes.
Agility Robotics, a US-based robotic locomotion spinout from Oregon State University (OSU), yesterday received $8m in a round featuring Sony Innovation Fund, an investment arm of consumer electronics producer Sony.
The round was led by VC fund Playground Global with participation from Coal Hill Ventures’ Robotics Hub.
Founded in 2015, Agility is working on robotic legs that mimic the gait of humans and other animals to help robots fulfil tasks requiring dynamism, such as military or courier functions. The spinout already markets a walk-and-run bipedal robot called Cassie to R&D clients.
The capital will be used to advance business development as Agility looks to build out both the product and underlying technology. Bruce Leak, founder of Playground Global, will join the board of directors.
Agility Robotics has now reportedly raised a total of $8.8m, including $100,000 invested by Williamette Angels Conference in 2016.
Agility Robotics was co-founded by Jonathan Hurst, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at OSU’s College of Engineering, as well as Mikhail Jones, a robotics engineer from the OSU’s Dynamic Robotics Laboratory.
The pair were helped by Damion Shelton, the spinout’s chief executive, who completed a robotics PhD at Carnegie Mellon University in 2007.
