AILOS says its R2poweR gearbox combines the agility of quasi-direct drives with high torque density. Source: AILOS Robotics
AILOS Robotics has raised €3.5 million ($4 million U.S.) to commercialize its patented R2poweR gearbox. The technology combines the agility of quasi-direct drives with high-torque density, enabling robots to become lighter, more energy-efficient, more affordable, and safer, claimed the company.
Brussels-based AILOS said it developed the new gearbox for force- and power-limited robot arms, humanoids, and wearable robots such as exoskeletons and prosthetics.
“Modern robots require a new generation of actuators,” said Pablo López García, co-founder and CEO of AILOS. “With R2poweR, we combine the smoothness of quasi-direct drives with the power of advanced acceleration systems. This removes one of the biggest technological barriers to lightweight, agile, and safe robots.”
R2powerR gets ready for industrial production
AILOS Robotics spun out of Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and its BruBotics research group in 2024. R2powerR is the result of more than 10 years of research, supported by the Flemish innovation and research office (VLAIO) and the Innoviris innovation accelerator.
R2poweR offers low backdrive resistance for safe interaction and high torque density for heavily loaded joints, explained the company. The technology also offers a scalable, quiet, and energy-efficient design suitable for large-scale production in Europe and the U.S., said AILOS.
With the new funding, AILOS said it will transition from laboratory research to factory production. It is actively seeking collaborations with robot manufacturers, industrial partners, and investors in European robotics infrastructure.
AILOS investors look to European robotics leadership
QBIC and High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) led AILOS Robotics’ funding round, with participation from Wallonie Entreprendre and finance&invest.brussels. They said the investment strengthens Europe’s ambition to locally produce strategic hardware for the rapidly growing human-centric robotics market.
AILOS is addressing a critical bottleneck in humanoid and collaborative robotics, and the team possesses the right technology, IP, and vision, said Cédric Van Nevel, partner at QBIC. With nearly €200 million ($232.2 mllion) under management, QBIC is a sector-agnostic seed and early-stage venture capital fund focused on academic research and technological breakthroughs.
In addition, AILOS has the potential to become a European technology champion, thanks to its unique hardware innovation and strong team, according to Anne Umbach, an investment manager at HTGF. Since 2005, the fund has financed startups from pre-seed to series rounds and has completed more than 200 exits. HTGF manages more than €2 billion ($2.3 billion) and focuses on deep tech, industrial tech, climate tech, digital tech, life sciences, and chemistry.
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