Ex-Waymo Engineers Launch Bedrock Robotics, Raising $80M for Construction Automation

Bedrock Robotics, a startup focused on autonomous vehicle technology founded by ex-employees of Waymo and Segment, has been operating quietly for over a year. It is now stepping into the spotlight with an $80 million funding round led by Eclipse and 8VC.

The firm intends to develop a self-driving kit that can be added to vehicles utilized in construction and other operational environments. This announcement aligns with earlier insights from TechCrunch in May. Bedrock aims to “enhance existing fleets with sensors, computational capabilities, and intelligence that understands project goals, adapts to changing conditions, and operates continuously,” as noted by co-founder and CEO Boris Sofman in a blog post.

Sofman previously led Waymo’s now-defunct self-driving truck project. He is also well-known for co-founding Anki Robotics, the creator of the popular Cozmo consumer robot, which shut down in 2019. The team includes other ex-Waymo members like Kevin Peterson, the current CTO, Ajay Gummalla, who is the VP of engineering, and Tom Eliaz, now VP of engineering and a former Segment and Twilio employee.

The company did not provide comments. TechCrunch will update this article with new information as soon as Bedrock responds.

Bedrock is part of a burgeoning sector of companies harnessing engineering talent adept in robotics, autonomy, and AI for off-road applications. Numerous startups have emerged recently, targeting autonomous solutions for off-road sectors such as construction, mining, industrial operations, and even military applications.

Earlier this week, Pronto, a San Francisco company focused on self-driving solutions for haulage trucks and off-road machinery in construction and mining, acquired rival SafeAI. Other notable players in the diverse and fragmented off-road autonomy market include Kodiak Robotics, Polymath Robotics, Seattle-based Overland AI, New Brunswick’s Potential, and established firms like Forterra.

Bedrock is particularly focusing on construction sites, conducting tests in Arkansas, Arizona, Texas, and California alongside four partners: Sundt Construction, Zachry Construction Corporation, Champion Site Prep Inc., and Capitol Aggregates Inc.