Swiss robotics technology company RoBoa develops tubular soft robots for rescue and detection in extremely narrow environments | Top 100 Swiss Innovators

Image source: RoBoa

RoBoa, a Swiss robotics technology company, was founded in 2019. The company is committed to the research and development of tubular soft robots. Relying on pneumatic technology and unique design, this robot can enter extremely narrow and enclosed spaces that are difficult for humans and other existing unmanned devices to access, and perform environmental detection and rescue tasks.

RoBoa is a spin - off company from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, founded jointly by Alexander Kübler, Pascal Auf der Maur, Betim Djambazi, and Nicolas Aymon. Alexander Kübler is the CEO of the company. He holds a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and has served as a scientific researcher in the school's robotics laboratory. Pascal Auf der Maur is the CTO of the company, with a master's degree in robotics from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. Betim Djambazi is the Chief Customer Officer of the company, holding a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. Nicolas Aymon is the Chief Operating Officer of the company, also with a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.

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Statistics show that the global emergency rescue robot market was worth approximately $682 million in 2024, with a CAGR of about 12.55% from 2020 to 2024. In various industry inspection and rescue operations, working in narrow and enclosed spaces has always been a major challenge. Currently, the main solutions in the market are the use of hardware robots and drones. However, these equipment have difficulty moving in winding, sharp, or slippery environments, and their performance is greatly limited in dangerous or hard - to - reach areas such as cluttered pipes. Traditional methods such as manual inspection and rescue lead to high interruption costs and potential safety hazards for personnel.

Image source: RoBoa

RoBoa combines advanced robotics technology with a unique movement mode to develop a tubular soft robot. This robot uses pneumatic technology and has excellent mobility, environmental perception ability, and liquid delivery function. It can flexibly and efficiently shuttle through narrow spaces such as rubble, pipes, or sewers for observation, detection, and emergency rescue.

RoBoa's robot looks like a snake - shaped water pipe. It consists of a long and slender soft textile tube and a head equipped with a pneumatic steering device and data collection sensors. It also comes with an operation box for storing components such as cables, pneumatic components, pipes, and electronic components.

RoBoa's robot uses pneumatic technology, with compressed air as the working medium. By controlling the gas pressure, it drives the extension of its own hose, thereby propelling the robot forward. Pneumatic technology allows RoBoa's robot to move without an additional traction device, and only the head moves instead of the whole body at the same time, which can minimize friction with the outside. It is especially suitable for dangerous environments with explosion risks and where the surrounding structure must be kept as stable as possible. This technology also ensures that the robot has extremely high flexibility and mobility, can easily bypass bends and obstacles, and is suitable for various complex environments that are narrow, winding, or even slippery. Currently, the prototype of the robot is 20 meters long and can be extended up to 100 meters.

RoBoa's robot is small in size and can be deployed and put into use within 10 to 15 minutes. It has an adjustable diameter of 5 - 10 centimeters and can quickly enter narrow spaces that humans, drones, or other robots cannot access. The pneumatic steering device on its head enables precise all - around steering control. Equipped with various sensors such as cameras, lights, microphones, and speakers, it can easily perform visual inspection, monitoring, and mapping tasks. In addition, the robot can be integrated with a delivery hose to transport liquids to the front end, providing water, food, medicine, etc. for rescue and detection scenarios.

RoBoa's robot focuses on pipe inspection, rescue, and exploration scenarios. In the pipe inspection scenario, the robot can penetrate deep into sewer and pipe systems, beyond the detection range of traditional push - rod cameras, and improve inspection efficiency. In the rescue scenario, the robot can search, locate, and supply trapped people faster and more safely. RoBoa has already conducted joint post - earthquake rescue tests with the Swiss rescue forces at a training base. In the exploration scenario, the robot can explore unknown environments including caves, holes, and tunnels and collect video and 3D data.

In April 2025, RoBoa received 150,000 Swiss francs in funding from Venture Kick to expand the pilot scale for early customers. In October 2025, RoBoa was approved for 1.3 million Swiss francs in funding from the Swiss Innovation Agency (Innosuisse) to accelerate the commercialization of its products.

RoBoa is one of the companies listed in the "TOP 100 Swiss Startups" in 2025. The "TOP 100 Swiss Startups" brings together the best Swiss - made startups and growing technology innovation companies. It is the most internationally influential benchmark list in the field of Swiss technology innovation. Since 2011, this list has selected 100 of the most innovative and market - promising Swiss innovation companies and 25 Swiss growing companies with the most unicorn potential across Switzerland every year, covering fields such as life sciences, engineering machinery, robotics, information and communication, low - carbon technology, and food technology. The "TOP 100 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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