AI-powered Dexterity valued at $1.65 billion

Superhumanoid, physical AI provider closes $95 million funding round

Dexterity

Just like DexR, Dexterity’s new “superhumanoid” dual-arm robot Mech is a form of mobile manipulation robot (MMR) that can be moved around facilities using a mobile robot base.

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Physical AI and robotics provider Dexterity recently announced it has closed a $95 million funding round, raising the company’s total valuation to $1.65 billion.

Lightspeed Venture Partners and Sumitomo Corporation participated in the round, the latter having invested in and partnered with Dexterity in 2022 to deploy 1,500 warehouse robots across Japan by 2026. Sumitomo and Dexterity recently established a joint venture to accelerate AI-powered robot adoption in the country.

The Redwood City, Calif.-based startup previously raised $140 million in Series B funding in 2021, bringing its valuation to $1.4 billion at the time.

Dexterity CEO Samir Menon said the company will use its latest funding to continue R&D of its technologies and hire additional employees, Bloomberg reported.

DexR takes on pick-and-place trailer loading

Dexterity’s customers include global logistics and parcel handling companies GXO, UPS, and FedEx, the latter having collaborated to help develop its DexR truck trailer loading robots.

Unveiled in 2023, DexR is equipped with two robot arms, and uses grippers, sensors, and cameras along with AI and machine learning (ML) algorithms to pick and place parcels into trailers.

Menon said Dexterity’s robots include touch sensing and object recognition capabilities, awareness to respond appropriately to their surroundings, and the ability to move and adjust as needed.

“The combination of those three is what we engineer and what we believe will drive the future of physical Al,” Menon said.

Mech MMR described as “superhumanoid”

Dexterity describes its latest dual-arm robot, Mech, as a “superhumanoid.” Just like DexR, Mech is a form of mobile manipulation robot (MMR), which can be moved around facilities using a mobile robot base.

With a 17.7 foot (5.4 meter) working envelope, the humanoid-like Mech can lift up to 132 pounds (60 kg) and operate in environmental conditions between 32 and 122 degrees Fahrenheit in up to 90% humidity.

One of Dexterity’s goals is to improve labor productivity through fleet management strategies. By deploying robots, the company aims to allow one “fleet captain” to manage 10 or more Mech robots.

In terms of safety, Dexterity said its software and hardware are “human centric,” and every deployment is certified to be RIA 15.06 compliant.

Beyond truck loading and unloading, applications for Dexterity’s robots include palletizing and depalletizing, singulation, and sortation. The company partnered with Dematic in 2022 to help deploy “full task” robots for Dexterity’s manufacturing, parcel, and retail customers.

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Donald Halsing is Associate editor of Robotics247.com. As an editor and journalist with a Bachelor of Arts in English from Framingham State University, he has a strong background in developing engaging and impactful stories for print and digital media. In addition to serving as Editor-in-Chief of Framingham State’s award-winning independent student newspaper, “The Gatepost,” Don spent over four years in operations at Mattress Firm, with his primary responsibilities including inventory control and inventory management. Don is currently pursuing his Master of Arts at FSU and is a professional photographer for Ashley Wall Photography

AI-powered Dexterity valued at $1.65 billion