The Cosmic 1A robot autonomously lifts and places each panel in a row of solar fixtures. | Credit: Cosmic Roboticss
Cosmic Robotics has secured $4 million in funding to develop artificial intelligence-driven robots aimed at expediting the construction of essential infrastructure, with an initial focus on large-scale solar energy installations. The company said it intends to address labor shortages and streamline the development of U.S. energy infrastructure, beginning with solar power projects.
The U.S. faces a $9.1 trillion infrastructure investment deficit, with $2 trillion needed for energy, said Cosmic Robotics. At the same time, solar projects, which are crucial for powering energy-intensive industries like AI data centers, are stalled by labor shortages and reliance on manual installation. The company said this is hindering the nation’s ability to meet soaring energy demands despite supply chain stability.
Cosmic Robotics has unveiled its first job-site robot, the Cosmic-1A, specifically engineered for the demands of large-scale solar installations, where efficiency and accuracy are key. Designed to enhance the existing workforce, this robot is designed to handle the physically intensive tasks in solar installation, promising to halve labor expenses and more than double daily production rates.
The Cosmic Robotics gripper can lift and place a single solar panel, placing it with the necessary precision. | Credit: Cosmic Robotics
Particle processes data in real time
At the heart of the robot’s capabilities is Particle, Cosmic’s proprietary AI platform. This real-time decision-making system processes sensor data to provide actionable insights, automating quality assurance, asset tracking, and workflow management to maintain project momentum. Particle aims to enable on-site adaptability, mitigate costly delays, and pave the way for fully autonomous construction.
Departing from conventional automation strategies that seek to impose rigid factory-like processes on construction sites, Cosmic is developing AI-driven tools equipped with multi-modal sensors and advanced AI-perception software. These tools are designed to navigate the complexities of real-world construction environments, ensuring reliable operation in challenging conditions such as dust, heat, rain, and mud.
Founded in 2023, Cosmic Robotics is led by CEO James Emerick, who brings deep experience in field-deployed construction automation from his work at Built Robotics and Autodesk Research. Chief Technology Officer Lewis Jones helped launch the world’s first 3D-printed rocket at Relativity Space.
They’re joined by a growing team of engineering leaders from Google, Amazon, SpaceX, NASA, and other frontier tech companies – bringing together aerospace-grade reliability, mission-critical systems thinking, and hard-won field deployment experience.
“Construction is the foundation of society—every road, power plant, and data center is built by expert hands in the field, I grew up on construction sites with my grandfather, and most of the tools he used 50 years ago are still in use today,” noted Emerick. “At Cosmic, we’re building the next generation of construction tools, designed to make exceptional crews even more productive –unlocking efficiency gains the industry desperately needs.”
Funding to build Cosmic Robotics momentum
Giant Ventures led the investment round, with participation from MaC Venture Capital and HCVC, along with notable angel investors such as Azeem Azhar, Aarthi Ramamurthy, and Nate Williams.
“Cosmic’s team has the rare combination of deep construction expertise and aerospace-grade engineering—exactly the kind of team that builds generational companies,” said Madelene Larsson, principal at Giant Ventures. “James brings the hard-won experience of engineering on the job site, and Lewis brings the kind of technical excellence that will redefine how we build critical infrastructure. First, they will accelerate solar deployment, with a long-term vision to expedite how we build all infrastructure at scale.”
Cosmic Robotics said its momentum has been recognized by industry leaders, with an award from the U.S. Department of Energy’s American-Made Solar Prize and funding from the JLL Foundation. The company said it is now gearing up to bring Particle and the Cosmic-1A system to some of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in the country.
As pressure mounts to deliver clean energy at speed and scale, the company said it is building the tools—and the team—that will define how it gets done.
The Cosmic 1A robot is an eight wheeled autonomous platform with a 6-axis industrial robot on the top for panel handling. | Credit: Cosmic Robotics
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