Robotics software startup Formant Inc. today announced that it has closed an $18 million funding round led by SignalFire to accelerate go-to-market and product development initiatives.

Network equipment maker Ericsson participated in the round as well,  along with about a half-dozen other investors.

Robot developers are increasingly equipping their machines with artificial intelligence software to make them more versatile. Researchers at Meta Platforms Inc., for example, have created an AI system that enables robots to automatically adapt to new types of terrain. Other organizations such as OpenAI have been working on similar initiatives. 

But in a complex environment such as a factory, even sophisticated AI-equipped robots are likely to encounter unexpected challenges to which they can’t adjust effectively. The more complex the environment, the more scenarios there are where a robot may malfunction. Hardware failures are another factor that can potentially disrupt business operations. 

San Francisco-based Format has developed a platform that promises to help companies more effectively address operational challenges related to their robot fleets. The platform allows users to detect when an issue occurs and log into the affected robot to remedy the problem. Technicians at an e-commerce fulfillment center, for example, could  log into a malfunctioning warehouse robot and reset its settings to resolve a software error.

Formant allows companies to automate parts of the troubleshooting process by creating workflows that activate in response to certain events. An automaker could create a workflow that deactivates a robotic arm if a potential hardware issue is detected. 

Formant says that its platform processes more than 5 billion data points per month from customers’ robots. According to the startup, this data can not only ease companies’ troubleshooting efforts, but also help them find opportunities to increase operational efficiency.

Using Formant’s platform, a company could scan historical data from its robot fleet to track how frequently machines require repairs. If the frequency of repairs increases from one quarter to the next, technicians can run analyses to identify the root cause and resolve it. Similarly, Formant makes it possible to compare data on robots from different manufacturers to identify which is most suitable for a given project. 

The startup’s platform manages the logistics of collecting data from robots and preparing it for processing. Companies can customize settings such as the volume of information that the platform processes based on their requirements. 

Following the $18 million funding round, Formant plans to double its current team of 20 employees with a particular focus on accelerating go-to-market activities. The startup will also add more features to make it easier for customers to build applications that integrate with its platform. 

Image: Formant