Amid the race to popularise human-like robots — AI research organisation OpenAI is reported to be the latest to explore the humanoid market that is expected to touch $38 billion by 2035, as per Goldman Sachs — a homegrown robotics company is on track to soon launch “an advanced AI agent capable of processing vast volumes of multi-modal data from vision, audio, and touch inputs”.
Leveraging dynamic, self-learning algorithms, Reliance-backed Addverb’s yet-to-be-named humanoid robots will be able to perform tasks across industries such as fashion, retail, and energy. The company plans to accept orders once the humanoid robots are launched by the end of this year. Its goal is also to commercialise military-grade robots and even take a humanoid to Mars.
To get a sense of the ground reality, this correspondent visited Bot-verse, the Rs 200-crore newest robotics facility of Addverb in Greater Noida.
As you enter the complex, the first thing that catches your eye is the massive building block in black that stands in stark contrast to its adjoining green infrastructure — a micro-forest with over 3,000 trees that was created using the Miyawaki technique. Inside, products ranging from autonomous mobile robots to sorting robots vie for space in the state-of-the-art greenfield factory. The robots, manufactured on demand from clients, are in their various stages of development, starting from raw materials on one side of the facility to finished products on the other.
Of course, the humanoid robot is nowhere to be seen as it is still in its prototype stage.
But make no mistake here. Bot-verse is touted to be the world’s largest mobile robotics manufacturing plant, with a production capacity of 100,000 robots annually. Spread over 15 acres with a built-up area of 600,000 sq ft, the facility manufactures robots as per requirement, and they are meant only for industrial purposes.
“Our robots integrate AI, IoT, 5G, and edge computing to enable real-time decision-making, scalability, and adaptability, pushing boundaries in automation,” Bir Singh, co-founder and chief business officer of Addverb, told this correspondent while giving a guided tour of the factory.
Addverb onboarded Reliance as a strategic investor in 2021 and subsequently deployed its advanced robotic solutions across multiple use cases in Reliance’s diverse businesses, including grocery, fashion, petrochemicals, and healthcare. Addverb will work closely with Reliance to develop the humanoid, leveraging the synergy of the Jio AI platform and 5G services, and deploy it extensively across the group’s businesses, Singh added.
Early last year, Addverb introduced India’s first quadruped, Trakr, an AI-powered robot with autonomous navigation, modular payload, and the ability to traverse various terrains for maintenance and security applications. It also unveiled Heal, a medical cobot that focuses on physical and rehabilitation therapy for stroke patients, and Syncro, a collaborative robot (cobot) meant for productivity in warehouses and factories, engineered to work alongside humans in shared spaces.
Addverb’s portfolio also includes advanced software like warehouse management systems, addressing unique operational challenges. “For instance, in e-commerce, we optimise omni-channel fulfilment, while in FMCG and pharma, our automation streamlines warehouses, enhancing inventory control and timely deliveries,” said Singh, whose company now serves more than 350 customers worldwide, including Reliance, HUL, PepsiCo, Maersk, Mondial Relay, DHL, and Landmark, and employs over 800 people globally.
Launched in 2016, Addverb set up its first factory, Bot Valley, in Noida, which began operations in 2021. Bot-verse came into being two years later in June 2023 after Bot Valley’s capacity was completely utilised. The company also has a Software Development Centre in Noida to “deliver value-added solutions for warehouse robotics and material-handling systems to global clients”.
Addverb’s growth trajectory has been exceptional. Starting with a revenue of Rs 1 crore in FY17, it reached Rs 200 crore by FY20 and nearly Rs 340 crore in FY23. The company aims to cross $1 billion in revenue in the next five years. “Our future focuses on global expansion in regions like Southeast Asia, the US, and Europe, while exploring new verticals like automotive and healthcare. Sustainability remains central to our mission, driving green energy collaborations and eco-friendly automation for businesses worldwide,” added Singh.
