Swiss robotics technology company Gravis Robotics develops a modular roof autonomous control kit to automate construction earthwork operations | Top 100 Innovators in Switzerland
Image source: Gravis
Gravis Robotics, a Swiss robotics technology company (hereinafter referred to as Gravis), was founded in 2022 and is committed to developing a modular roof autonomous control kit. This kit combines hydraulic mechanical control technology based on machine learning with advanced perception and mapping technology, enabling existing earth - moving machinery to transform into robots with autonomous operation capabilities and improving construction efficiency.
Gravis is a spin - off company from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. It was co - founded by Ryan Luke Johns, Dominic Jud, Marco Tranzatto, and BURAK Çizmeci. Ryan Luke Johns is the CEO of the company. He holds a Ph.D. in robotics from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and has served as a researcher at the Robotics Systems Laboratory. Dominic Jud is the CTO of the company. He also holds a Ph.D. in robotics from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and has served as a post - doctoral researcher at the Robotics Systems Laboratory. Marco Tranzatto is the team leader of the company. He holds a master's degree in robotics and automation from the University of Pisa and has served as a software engineer at the Robotics Systems Laboratory. BURAK Çizmeci holds a Ph.D. from the Technical University of Munich and has served as a post - doctoral researcher at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, conducting research in the fields of automation and remote operation of heavy machinery.
Image source: Gravis
The traditional construction industry relies on manual operation of heavy machinery. The productivity of a single machine is limited, and it is affected by the current labor shortage, making it difficult to further improve production efficiency. At the same time, the working environment in this industry is relatively harsh. In some scenarios, there are also dangers such as the clearance of unexploded ordnance and the cleaning of roads after landslides. Strict safety measures need to be taken to protect the safety of workers. The use of artificial - intelligence - based automation technology has become a common consensus in the industry, but the current problem is how to deploy relevant systems at the construction site as soon as possible and at low cost.
Image source: Gravis
Gravis has developed a modular roof autonomous control kit and a corresponding operating tablet, which can directly transform existing earth - moving machinery into engineering robots capable of automated operation, realizing the automation of earth - moving operations in construction, improving productivity while reducing the risks of the operating environment.
Gravis's modular roof autonomous control kit is based on AI machine - learning algorithms. It has undergone a large number of demonstration trainings in simulated environments for various terrain conditions. It can enable earth - moving machinery such as excavators to operate autonomously by interpreting CAD drawings and other input information. The algorithm can continuously learn and optimize the operation strategy by analyzing hydraulic pressure data, qualitative shapes, GPS information, etc., so as to master the soil hardness, achieve a full bucket, and easily perform various tasks. At the same time, the algorithm can also help the machine adapt to the shape and operation mode of hydraulic equipment, connect various interfaces, and realize cross - device operation.
In terms of hardware, Gravis's autonomous control kit consists of cameras, lidar, and an intelligent mast. Its front - and all - around cameras can provide real - time environmental monitoring and low - latency HDR video streams to enhance remote control. The all - around lidar is equipped with multi - sensor fusion technology, which can perform real - time 3D scanning and environmental perception of the surrounding terrain, providing instant visualization of excavation and filling, adaptive autonomous excavation, and completion information. The intelligent mast is equipped with a powerful GNSS antenna and integrates a wide - angle HDR camera, remote WiFi, and status indicators. It also uses a durable weather - proof housing to ensure its own operation. The vehicle - grade edge computing system enables the kit to operate normally even in an offline state. The built - in AI perception system can detect the position of nearby dump trucks, enabling the excavator to automatically dump materials into waste piles, hoppers, or trucks, thus achieving flexible truck positioning and precise loading. The kit can be adapted to machinery of various sizes from 10 tons to over 100 tons and is compatible with a variety of excavators and wheel loaders. The machinery it is adapted to needs to have electronic control functions, such as electro - hydraulic (EH) pilot valves. For traditional models, they can be made compatible by installing modified electro - hydraulic valves.
Gravis is also equipped with a portable operating tablet. With its wireless remote function and industry - leading operating interface, it can combine automated operations with enhanced visual guidance, facilitating users to perform remote operations in various ways. The tablet can help users flexibly define the operation area to meet the actual needs of the construction site. For example, the area can be set by inputting geometric shapes from CAD/BIM models or using reference points set by touch, bucket, or XYZ values on - site. Just click "Start" on the tablet to start autonomous earth - moving operations. Different from traditional machine control systems, the tablet can provide an intuitive real - time 3D visual effect diagram, instantly visualize the earth - excavation/filling requirements, and generate as - built drawings during the construction process. The tablet can also preset a visualized 3D model with georeferenced information to avoid known utilities or pre - fabricated manhole risers. In terms of operation, the tablet can support advanced remote control, semi - autonomous, and fully autonomous operation modes. Users can control and supervise one or more devices in the co - driver's cab of the equipment, within a safe distance at the operation site, or in a remote environment outside the construction site, and make production deployments and adjustments according to the on - site conditions.
Gravis's kit can effectively improve the production efficiency, safety, and accuracy of construction, increasing the production efficiency of existing earth - moving machinery by 30%. The company has currently cooperated with the Swiss raw materials group Holcim and the South Korean construction machinery manufacturer Develon.
Gravis Robotics is one of the companies on the "TOP100 Swiss Startups" list in 2025. The "TOP100 Swiss Startups" brings together the best Swiss - made startups and growing technology innovation companies and is the most internationally influential benchmark list in the Swiss technology innovation field. Since 2011, the list has selected 100 of the most innovative Swiss companies with market prospects and 25 Swiss growing companies with unicorn potential across the country every year, covering fields such as life sciences, engineering machinery, robotics, information and communication, low - carbon technology, and food technology. The "TOP100 Swiss Startups" and its series of brand activities are iconic events in the Swiss innovation ecosystem, representing the highest level of Swiss innovation and the forefront of international investment and financing.
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