Much of today's robotic manipulation technology depends on visual information to determine how machines should interact with their surroundings. While cameras can identify objects and their positions, they provide limited information about the physical resistance encountered during movement. Small positioning mistakes can therefore cause problems when robots attempt tasks such as inserting connectors, tightening screws or securing components.
Enact's approach is to measure force directly through the motors and actuators responsible for robotic movement. Its proprietary hardware captures information about physical resistance without requiring separate sensors attached to individual contact points. That information is then processed by AI models that adjust the robot's actions based on what it encounters.
The company describes its technology as an artificial nervous system, with force measurements collected throughout the robot and interpreted by a central AI model. Enact is developing its own motors, sensing technology and control models while adapting existing AI systems, including video-based models, to generate robotic movements.
Galliker wants the company's motors to eventually measure force more than 1,000 times per second. He believes the approach could reduce the time needed to train robots for unfamiliar tasks from months to days, although Enact has not published performance results demonstrating those improvements.
Research from the University of California, Berkeley offers some support for force-based robotic control. In one study, robots using continuous force feedback achieved approximately 30% better performance on manipulation tasks, including installing a glass lightbulb. The research used force measurements at roughly 20 times per second, substantially below the frequency Enact is targeting.
Enact is initially focusing on industrial assembly operations involving smaller production runs and frequent product variations. Potential applications include connecting cables, installing seals, fastening screws and securing clips, where robots must repeatedly adapt their movements to different components.
The company sees an opportunity among manufacturers that have not adopted robotics as extensively as larger industrial businesses. Figures cited by Enact indicate that 4.6% of small and medium-sized German companies use robots, compared with 24% of large companies.
Rather than competing primarily on manufacturing volume, Enact plans to concentrate on flexibility and dexterity in European production environments. Galliker summarized the company's strategy by saying, "China wins on volume; we win on variety."
The startup is also building a training operation in Zurich, recruiting remote operators to control robots and collect demonstrations of physical tasks. Those recordings will be used to train its AI systems. Enact says its technology can support different robot configurations, ranging from individual robotic arms to humanoid machines, but has not identified which design will be deployed first.
Enact currently employs 12 people, including engineers with experience at Google DeepMind, 1X, Amazon Robotics, Helsing and Physical Intelligence. Galliker previously worked on software and motion control for 1X's NEO humanoid robot, including development of its walking capabilities, before joining Physical Intelligence. He also studied mechanical engineering at ETH Zurich and conducted research in Marco Hutter's laboratory.
Former redalpine deep-tech investor Philip Kneis has joined Enact to oversee growth. The company plans to increase its workforce fivefold by the end of 2027, using the new funding to expand engineering, accelerate hardware development and begin deploying robots with industrial partners.
Enact says it is discussing potential applications with European businesses across manufacturing, infrastructure, retail and food processing, although it has not disclosed any customers or confirmed commercial deployments.
The startup is entering a competitive robotics market that includes Physical Intelligence, Neura Robotics, RobCo, Agile Robots and Gravis Robotics. Another company, Eka Robotics, raised $150 million at a $1.45 billion valuation during the same week. Enact has not disclosed its own valuation.
Despite securing one of Europe's largest reported pre-seed rounds, Enact remains at an early development stage. The company has yet to release demonstration videos or publish measurements of task completion rates and operating speeds.
Its immediate challenge will be translating its force-sensing technology into robots that can reliably perform industrial assembly work. The funding gives Enact resources to develop and test that approach, but its effectiveness in commercial settings remains unproven.
This analysis is based on reporting from Izon.
Image courtesy of jurvetson.
This article was generated with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy and quality.
