{
 "map": "Chicago and Midwest Robotics",
 "page": "https://maps.abdulalali.com/chicago-robotics-market-map.html",
 "by": "Abdul Al Ali",
 "version": "v1",
 "mapCount": 48,
 "listed": 48,
 "complete": true,
 "dateModified": "2026-11-05",
 "corrections": "A mistake or a missing company? Message Abdul on X: https://x.com/abdulalali",
 "items": [
  {
   "name": "Dirac Labs",
   "layer": "Data",
   "city": "Madison",
   "state": "WI",
   "description": "Quantum (diamond magnetometer) navigation sensors for GPS-denied environments.",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.start-midwest.com/news/wisconsin-startup-funding-q3-2026-37-8-million-across-8-deals"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "GRYFN",
   "layer": "Data",
   "city": null,
   "state": "IN",
   "description": "Multi-sensor UAV systems capturing RGB, LiDAR and hyperspectral data (Purdue startup).",
   "sources": [
    "https://stories.prf.org/aav-strategic-ventures-purdue/"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "OneTrack",
   "layer": "Data",
   "city": "Chicago",
   "state": "IL",
   "description": "AI cameras and edge sensors on forklifts and in warehouses for safety and operations analytics (formerly Intelligent Flying Machines).",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.einpresswire.com/article/785382711/cj-logistics-america-and-onetrack-redefine-warehouse-operations-using-ai-and-computer-vision"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Reconstruct",
   "layer": "Data",
   "city": "Champaign",
   "state": "IL",
   "description": "Computer-vision reality capture that aligns site imagery to design models to track construction progress.",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.builtinchicago.org/company/reconstruct"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Sensory Robotics",
   "layer": "Data",
   "city": "Cincinnati",
   "state": "OH",
   "description": "3D-camera safety systems that create safety zones around industrial robots; adapting it for Air Force hangars.",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2025/09/uc-1819-hub-robotics-partner-wins-125m-air-force-funding.html"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Thread",
   "layer": "Data",
   "city": null,
   "state": "ND",
   "description": "Autonomous drone and robotics data collection for infrastructure inspection (formerly Airtonomy).",
   "sources": [
    "https://blogs.und.edu/und-today/?p=28930"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Voxel51",
   "layer": "Data",
   "city": "Ann Arbor",
   "state": "MI",
   "description": "FiftyOne data platform for curating visual and physical-AI training datasets.",
   "sources": [
    "https://annarborusa.org/news/ann-arbor-based-voxel51-raises-12-5m-in-series-a-funding/",
    "https://www.start-midwest.com/news/founder-story-brian-moore-of-voxel51-data-for-physical-ai"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "FreightMiner",
   "layer": "Model",
   "city": "Ann Arbor",
   "state": "MI",
   "description": "Aftermarket teleoperated-plus-autonomous driving conversion kit for commercial trucks.",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.purpose.jobs/blog/freightminer-autonomous-trucking"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "May Mobility",
   "layer": "Model",
   "city": "Ann Arbor",
   "state": "MI",
   "description": "Autonomous vehicle driving stack and shuttle/ride-hail deployments (MPDM decision-making).",
   "sources": [
    "https://roboticsroundup.substack.com/p/robotics-roundup-22-september-2025",
    "https://www.purpose.jobs/blog/top-mobility-companies-michigan"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Auxetic Robotics",
   "layer": "Interface",
   "city": null,
   "state": null,
   "description": "Soft, motor-driven artificial-muscle structures to make humanoid robots safer and cheaper (Northwestern research team).",
   "sources": [
    "https://polsky.uchicago.edu/2026/09/25/fall-2026-collaboratorium-connects-midwest-researchers-with-business-expertise/"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Botlink",
   "layer": "Interface",
   "city": null,
   "state": "ND",
   "description": "Cloud-based drone operations and flight-control platform.",
   "sources": [
    "https://unmanned-aerial.com/joint-venture-launching-cloud-based-operations-platform-for-drones"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Circular Wave Drive",
   "layer": "Interface",
   "city": "Columbus",
   "state": "OH",
   "description": "Efficient, ruggedized speed-reducing gear systems for robotics and aerospace actuation.",
   "sources": [
    "https://builtin.com/company/circular-wave-drive"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Dark Matter Robotics",
   "layer": "Interface",
   "city": "Champaign",
   "state": "IL",
   "description": "Robotic systems combining hardware, perception and software for industrial and research automation.",
   "sources": [
    "https://researchpark.illinois.edu/dark-matter-robotics/"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Tactun",
   "layer": "Interface",
   "city": "Edina",
   "state": "MN",
   "description": "AI-ready hardware controllers and a no-code software platform for smart-machinery makers.",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.inven.ai/company-lists/top-19-robotics-companies-in-minnesota"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Trossen Robotics",
   "layer": "Interface",
   "city": "Downers Grove",
   "state": "IL",
   "description": "Affordable robot arms, research UGVs and data-collection kits used to train physical-AI models (labs incl. DeepMind, Stanford).",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.inven.ai/company-lists/top-20-robotics-companies-in-illinois",
    "https://www.trossenrobotics.com/about"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "1872",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "Cincinnati",
   "state": "OH",
   "description": "AI-native, robot-driven steel fabrication factory run by its own Factory OS software.",
   "sources": [
    "https://pulse2.com/1872-launches-autonomous-steel-fabrication-factory-in-cincinnati-closes-15-million-seed-round/"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "ABAGY Robotic Systems",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "Buffalo Grove",
   "state": "IL",
   "description": "Software and hardware that let manufacturers automate high-mix robotic welding with minimal programming.",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.inven.ai/company-lists/top-20-robotics-companies-in-illinois"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Agilis Air",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "Youngstown",
   "state": "OH",
   "description": "Low-cost, NDAA-compliant American-made drones with GPS-denied autonomy for defense.",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/agilis-air-raises-1-4-million-to-build-next-generation-drones-and-autonomy-technologies-in-ohio-302876368.html"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Atomic Industries",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "Detroit",
   "state": "MI",
   "description": "AI-driven, scalable manufacturing technology (automated tool and die / injection-mold tooling).",
   "sources": [
    "https://roboticsroundup.substack.com/p/robotics-roundup-21-september-2025"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Avea Robotics",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": null,
   "state": null,
   "description": "Autonomous, collaborative floor-cleaning robots for mid-sized commercial buildings (UChicago venture challenge finalist).",
   "sources": [
    "https://polsky.uchicago.edu/2025/02/27/startups-vie-for-investment-at-the-2025-college-new-venture-challenge/"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Bedestrian",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "Ann Arbor",
   "state": "MI",
   "description": "Autonomous indoor/outdoor delivery robots for hospitals and facilities.",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.purpose.jobs/blog/top-mobility-companies-michigan"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Blueflite",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "Brighton",
   "state": "MI",
   "description": "Autonomous cargo drones and drone logistics, including BVLOS organ-transport pilots.",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.start-midwest.com/news/midwest-startup-funding-for-the-week-ending-october-30-2026",
    "https://www.purpose.jobs/blog/top-ann-arbor-tech-companies-to-watch-in-2022"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "BotCrew",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "Duluth",
   "state": "MN",
   "description": "Autonomous construction robots and vehicle-autonomy retrofits for solar and wind projects, offered as a service.",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.inven.ai/company-lists/top-19-robotics-companies-in-minnesota"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Common Vector Robotics",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "Detroit",
   "state": "MI",
   "description": "Rugged autonomous ground robots for defense, logistics and field operations, with in-house components.",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.michiganbusiness.org/press-releases/2026/10/four-michigan-startups-prepare-for-pitchmi-championship/"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "EarthSense",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "Champaign",
   "state": "IL",
   "description": "Small autonomous field robots (TerraSentia) for crop data collection and farming-as-a-service.",
   "sources": [
    "https://researchpark.illinois.edu/category/news/graduates/"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Formic",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "Chicago",
   "state": "IL",
   "description": "Robots-as-a-service: leases and runs packing and palletizing robots for small and mid-sized factories.",
   "sources": [
    "https://roboticsroundup.substack.com/p/robotics-roundup-34-october-2026",
    "https://www.builtinchicago.org/company/formic"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Grain Weevil",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "Omaha",
   "state": "NE",
   "description": "Robot that levels and sweeps grain inside bins so farmers do not have to enter them.",
   "sources": [
    "https://siliconprairienews.com/2025/02/grain-weevils-grain-bin-safety-and-management-robot-one-step-closer-to-retail/",
    "https://agfundernews.com/grain-bins-are-hazardous-nebraska-startup-grain-weevil-aims-to-make-them-safer-through-robotics"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Greenfield Robotics",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": null,
   "state": "KS",
   "description": "Swarms of small autonomous robots that mechanically cut weeds in row crops, rented per acre.",
   "sources": [
    "https://kansaspublicradio.org/2024-04-08/robots-weed-fields-cut-down-herbicides"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Hire Henry",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "St. Louis",
   "state": "MO",
   "description": "Autonomous industrial mowers using GPS and computer vision for large commercial properties.",
   "sources": [
    "https://fullscale.io/blog/top-startups-in-st-louis/"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Kadeya",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "Chicago",
   "state": "IL",
   "description": "Autonomous robotic bottling stations that sanitize, refill and dispense reusable bottles on site.",
   "sources": [
    "https://worldbusinesschicago.com/allnews/chicagoland-built-for-the-future-of-intelligent-automation/"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Motmot",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "Detroit",
   "state": "MI",
   "description": "Autonomous underwater robots that inspect live municipal water mains without excavation.",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.michiganbusiness.org/press-releases/2026/10/four-michigan-startups-prepare-for-pitchmi-championship/",
    "https://www.purpose.jobs/blog/how-ann-arbors-mobility-startups-get-moving"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Nala Robotics",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "Arlington Heights",
   "state": "IL",
   "description": "Robotic chef systems that cook multi-cuisine recipes automatically for restaurants and cloud kitchens.",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.builtinchicago.org/company/nala-robotics"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Path Robotics",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "Columbus",
   "state": "OH",
   "description": "AI-driven autonomous robotic welding systems for manufacturers.",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.purpose.jobs/blog/top-columbus-ohio-startups-to-watch-2023",
    "https://www.inven.ai/company-lists/top-25-robotics-companies-in-ohio",
    "https://prnewswire.com/news-releases/path-robotics-raises-56m-to-build-the-future-of-manufacturing-301281257.html"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Poultry Patrol",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "Coralville",
   "state": "IA",
   "description": "Small camera-equipped wheeled robots that patrol turkey barns to keep birds moving and healthy.",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.kcrg.com/2025/04/16/coralville-based-business-creates-robot-turkey-farmers"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "ReconRobotics",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "Edina",
   "state": "MN",
   "description": "Throwable tactical micro-robots (Throwbot) for police and military reconnaissance.",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minn-based-co-to-supply-throw-bots-to-police-military/"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Refraction AI",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "Ann Arbor",
   "state": "MI",
   "description": "Last-mile autonomous delivery robots that ride in bike lanes in all weather.",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.purpose.jobs/blog/top-ann-arbor-tech-companies-to-watch-in-2022"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "RoadPrintz",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "Cleveland Heights",
   "state": "OH",
   "description": "Robotic road-marking (stencil painting) system mounted on trucks.",
   "sources": [
    "https://builtin.com/company/roadprintz"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "RoboTire",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "Detroit",
   "state": "MI",
   "description": "Automated robotic tire-changing systems for auto service shops (production in Plymouth, MI per its profile; verify current status).",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.purpose.jobs/blog/top-detroit-startups-to-watch-2023"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Rowbot Systems",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "Minneapolis",
   "state": "MN",
   "description": "Autonomous in-row robots for cornfield tasks such as nitrogen application.",
   "sources": [
    "https://builtin.com/company/rowbot-systems"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Sabanto",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": null,
   "state": "IL",
   "description": "Retrofit kits and software that make small farm tractors run autonomously.",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.builtinchicago.org/articles/sabanto-raises-17m-agtech"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Salin 247",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "Ames",
   "state": "IA",
   "description": "Lightweight autonomous electric planters and sprayers that reduce soil compaction.",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/2025/salin-247-aspires-grow-new-biocentury-research-farm-space"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "SkySpecs",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "Ann Arbor",
   "state": "MI",
   "description": "Autonomous drone inspection plus asset software for wind turbines.",
   "sources": [
    "https://roboticsroundup.substack.com/p/robotics-roundup-15-march-2025",
    "https://www.purpose.jobs/blog/top-ai-startups-tech-companies"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Snowbotix",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": null,
   "state": null,
   "description": "All-electric, all-terrain robot for snow and ice management (piloted at Grand Rapids airport).",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.purpose.jobs/blog/how-ann-arbors-mobility-startups-get-moving"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Tapster Robotics",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "Oak Park",
   "state": "IL",
   "description": "Robots that physically tap and swipe phones and touchscreens for automated device testing.",
   "sources": [
    "https://startupintros.com/orgs/tapster-robotics-inc"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "ThorDrive",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "Cincinnati",
   "state": "OH",
   "description": "Autonomous driving system for airport cargo and baggage tractors.",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.purpose.jobs/blog/top-ai-startups-tech-companies"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Unload",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "Eden Prairie",
   "state": "MN",
   "description": "Warehouse automation with horizontal-moving robots for dense storage and order fulfillment.",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.inven.ai/company-lists/top-19-robotics-companies-in-minnesota"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Virtual Incision",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "Lincoln",
   "state": "NE",
   "description": "MIRA miniaturized, single-incision robotic-assisted surgery platform.",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.biospace.com/virtual-incision-announces-46-million-financing-to-advance-first-of-its-kind-mira-surgical-platform"
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Zenblen",
   "layer": "Application",
   "city": "Chicago",
   "state": "IL",
   "description": "Robotic smoothie bar that blends fresh smoothies automatically (mHUB member).",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.builtinchicago.org/company/zenblen"
   ]
  }
 ]
}