AILOS Robotics has successfully raised €3.5 million (approximately $4 million) to advance the commercialization of its innovative R2poweR gearbox technology. This new gearbox aims to enhance the performance of robots by combining the agility of quasi-direct drives with high torque density. The company asserts that this development will result in robots that are lighter, more energy-efficient, and safer.
Based in Brussels, AILOS Robotics has designed the R2poweR gearbox specifically for force- and power-limited applications. This includes robot arms, humanoid robots, and wearable robots such as exoskeletons and prosthetics. According to Pablo López García, co-founder and CEO of AILOS, “Modern robots require a new generation of actuators. 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.”
Transitioning from Research to Production
AILOS Robotics originated from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and its BruBotics research group in 2024. The R2poweR gearbox is the culmination of over a decade of research, supported by the Flemish innovation and research office (VLAIO) and the Innoviris innovation accelerator. The technology boasts low backdrive resistance, ensuring safe interaction, and high torque density for heavily loaded joints. AILOS emphasizes that the R2poweR gearbox is designed to be scalable, quiet, and energy-efficient, making it suitable for large-scale production in both Europe and the United States.
With the recent funding, AILOS Robotics plans to shift from laboratory research to factory production. The company is actively seeking collaborations with robot manufacturers, industrial partners, and investors within the European robotics landscape.
Investors Back European Robotics Expansion
The funding round was led by QBIC and High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), with additional participation from Wallonie Entreprendre and finance&invest.brussels. This investment is seen as a significant step towards strengthening Europe’s capacity to produce strategic hardware for the rapidly expanding human-centric robotics market.
Cédric Van Nevel, partner at QBIC, noted that AILOS is tackling a critical bottleneck in humanoid and collaborative robotics. He remarked, “The team possesses the right technology, IP, and vision.” Meanwhile, Anne Umbach, an investment manager at HTGF, highlighted AILOS’s potential to emerge as a European technology leader due to its unique hardware innovations and capable team.
HTGF, which has managed over €2 billion (around $2.3 billion) and has financed numerous startups since its inception in 2005, focuses on deep tech and industrial tech. The fund has successfully completed more than 200 exits, showcasing its expertise in nurturing innovative companies.
In addition, finance&invest.brussels provides crucial support to entrepreneurs in the Brussels Region through loans, equity, and guarantees, facilitating sustainable growth for startups, scale-ups, and small to medium-sized enterprises.
As AILOS Robotics moves forward with its groundbreaking gearbox technology, the company aims to position itself at the forefront of the evolving robotics industry, addressing both current and future market demands.