Why CI Invested in ANYbotics: Robotics at an Industrial Inflection Point

Robotics at an Inflection Point

Several forces are converging to make robotics an investable reality. Just as drones matured into indispensable industrial tools over the last decade, legged robots are now at the same inflection point.

Today’s quadrupedal robots can adapt to terrain, avoid obstacles, make autonomous decisions, and even learn from new scenarios. These capabilities were not possible a decade ago. The integration of AI into robotics is pushing the boundaries beyond mobility into cognition, allowing robots not only to see and sense but also to understand and act in real time.

The economic curve is equally compelling. What were once million-dollar prototypes are becoming commercially viable products thanks to radical cost-down in core components. Motors, actuators, and sensors are now produced at scale and integrated with greater efficiency. The cost of computing power, sensors, and batteries has fallen sharply, while advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning now allow autonomous systems to operate with superhuman precision.

ANYbotics: From Research to Real-World Deployment (& Climate Impact)

Founded in 2016 as a spin-out from ETH Zurich, ANYbotics has spent nearly a decade refining its technology. Its flagship product, the ANYmal, is an autonomous four-legged robot engineered for industrial inspection. The ANYmal is capable of traversing stairs, crossing uneven ground, and even crawling through confined spaces. This is all delivered through full-stack onboard software which enables autonomous navigation.

Robotics plays a critical role in decarbonization – a key component for CI’s investment. Water and dust-proof, the robot can carry a payload of advanced sensors that detect gas leaks, thermal anomalies, and equipment failures. ANYbotics’ robots empower facilities with earlier, more advanced leak detection and reduced downtime for critical assets, which is driving significant return on investment for industrial customers. There is also a human impact angle; deploying robots into hazardous environments can protect workers and allow de-manning of remote or dangerous facilities.

Why is CI Investing Now? The ANYmal X

ANYbotics has developed a breakthrough new product, the ANYmal X. The world’s first explosion-proof quadrupedal robot, it will be certified for hazardous environments where traditional robots cannot go. Coming to market in 2026, this positions ANYbotics as the first to market in a niche with enormous demand and is particularly relevant to CI’s industrial and oil and gas Limited Partners.

The Competitive Landscape

Reading this article, you may think that ANYmal looks familiar to you – and you’re right. ANYbotics’ closest peer, Boston Dynamics, has helped normalize the concept of legged robots. You’ve probably seen the viral videos of their “Spot” model dancing online.

Unlike Spot, ANYmal is purpose-built for hazardous industrial inspection. Its superior waterproofing, dust resistance, and terrain navigation make it uniquely suited for the environments that need automation most.

Moreover, other form factors such as tracked robots, aerial drones, and humanoids each face limitations. Crawlers cannot manage stairs or uneven ground; drones are restricted by regulations, dust interference, and payload limitations; and humanoids remain far from industrial deployment. By contrast, ANYbotics occupies a differentiated and defensible position in the robotics ecosystem.