What Aerobotix does

Aerobotix is an AS9100- and ITAR-certified FANUC Authorized System Integrator founded in 2005 and headquartered in Madison, Alabama, in the Huntsville-area defense corridor. The company designs, builds, and commissions turnkey robotic systems for the aerospace and defense industries, with four core practice areas: robotic painting, robotic sanding, automated inspection, and mobile robotics. Its technology stack is built on FANUC industrial robots integrated with proprietary end-of-arm tooling, including adaptive pathing software, FerRobotics Active Compliant Technology for force-controlled sanding, C1D1/C2D1 hazardous-environment robot conversions, LiDAR-based mobile navigation, non-contact Terahertz coating thickness measurement, and 3D metrology for digital twin workflows. Notable applications include stealth and low-observable coatings for the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, robotic canopy polishing, helicopter blade painting, hypersonic missile production lines, NASA Space Launch System foam insulation, and depot maintenance robotics for the U.S. Air Force.

The company serves two principal customer segments: aerospace and defense prime contractors (Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, international F-35 partners) and U.S. military services and depots (Air Force, Navy, Army, NASA, AFRL, AMRDEC). Its business model is predominantly project-based, selling custom turnkey robotic systems through direct enterprise field sales with quote-based, multi-year contract pricing; supplementary revenue streams include installation and commissioning services, emergency robot support and maintenance, and distribution of Minteq FIREX RX-2390 thermal protection coating. Go-to-market relies on industry conferences, case-study content, supplier awards from FANUC and the primes, and strategic co-development partnerships with FerRobotics, Manufacturing Automation Systems, Automated Solutions Australia, Compass Technology Group, and Minteq International. From a starting base of seven employees in 2005, Aerobotix has grown to more than 60 team members with 170+ robotic systems installed globally and reported 175% year-over-year sales growth in 2023.

Name

Aerobotix

Legal name

Aerobotix, Inc.

Website

https://aerobotix.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Aerobotix is an AS9100-certified FANUC robotics integrator that designs and delivers turnkey robotic painting, sanding, inspection, and mobile robotics systems for aerospace and defense primes and U.S. military services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerospace and Defense Robotic Systems Integration

NAICS

Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)

SIC

Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

Robot Hardware, Actuators & Components (sensors, grippers, motors) (HDAAAIAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV) (IMABAIAH)

Keywords

• Aerospace robotics integration
• Robotic coating systems
• Defense automation solutions
• Robotic sanding systems
• Automated inspection robotics

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Turnkey Robotic Systems: Design, build, and deliver custom turnkey robotic systems including painting, sanding, inspection, and mobile robotics. Systems are project-based with custom pricing. Includes hardware integration, software development, path programming, and validation services.
2. System Integration and Installation: On-site installation, integration, and commissioning of robotic systems at customer facilities. Includes training and production start-up support.
3. Emergency Support and Maintenance: Emergency robot support services, spares, upgrades, and ongoing maintenance. Phone support available for existing customers.
4. Coating Materials Distribution: Distribution of FIREX RX-2390 thermal protection coating for hypersonic applications. Acts as distributor for Minteq International's coating products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Aerobotix designs, builds, and integrates custom turnkey robotic systems — primarily painting, sanding, inspection, and mobile robotics cells — exclusively for aerospace and defense customers. The company operates as a sole FANUC Authorized System Integrator for this vertical, layering proprietary end-of-arm tooling, adaptive pathing, vision, and active compliance onto FANUC robots, then delivering on-site installation, path programming, validation, training, and ongoing emergency support to defense primes and U.S. military depots.

Product overview

Aerobotix provides turnkey robotic systems for the aerospace and defense industries. The core portfolio includes Robotic Painting Systems, Robotic Sanding Systems, Automated Inspection Systems, and Mobile Robotics as the four main solution areas. These are complemented by specialized products including the Intelligent Adaptive Sanding System (powered by MAS QC Plus and FerRobotics ACT), the Active Taping Kit (ATK) for automated masking tape application, C2D1 EOAT Automated Sander for hazardous environments, and distribution of FIREX RX-2390 thermal protection coating. The company offers services including C1D1/C2D1 robot conversions with NRTLE certification and operates a Process Lab facility for testing and demonstrations. The company also provides hypersonic missile production solutions featuring six-robot production lines with scanning, sanding, coating, and measurement capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Robotic Painting Systems Turnkey robotic coating systems that apply unique high-performance and low-observable coatings to aerospace and defense aircraft, missiles, and components. Includes multi-robot workcells and precision fluid handling for full-up aircraft painting, used by defense primes and U.S. military depots.
• Robotic Sanding Systems Automated robotic sanding systems incorporating active compliance for precision surface preparation, including F-35 canopy polishing, coating preparation, and automated polishing of fighter jet transparency canopies and windshields for aerospace and defense customers.
• Automated Inspection Systems High-quality automated inspection systems including non-contact coating thickness measurement, 3D metrology, structured light scanning, and digital twin generation for aerospace and defense manufacturing and depot customers.
• Mobile Robotics Solutions Flexible mobile robot solutions including collaborative mobile robots for U.S. Air Force maintenance depots, featuring self-navigation via LiDAR and configurable for sanding, painting, and inspection applications.
• Intelligent Adaptive Sanding System Advanced robotic sanding system that combines MAS QC Plus scanning and path-generation software with FerRobotics Active Compliant Technology, enabling autonomous adaptive sanding for aerospace components with zero operator input.
• Active Taping Kit (ATK) Automated robotic end-effector for precision application of masking tape in aerospace manufacturing, using FerRobotics' patented Active Compliant Technology to apply varying contact force on parts of varying shapes.
• C2D1 EOAT Automated Sander First-of-its-kind Class II, Division 1 (C2D1) rated automated sander end-of-arm tool for hazardous environments with combustible dust, featuring built-in dust collection and active compliant force control, developed in partnership with FerRobotics.
• Fully Robotic Hypersonic Missile Production Line Six-robot turnkey production line with integrated curing booth for hypersonic missile manufacturing, including Shape Fidelity scanning, adaptive pathing, automated sanding, robotic thermal protection coating, and non-contact Terahertz thickness measurement.
• FIREX RX-2390 Thermal Protection Coating Distribution and Robotic Application Distribution and robotic application of Minteq International's FIREX RX-2390 thermal protection coating for hypersonic missile flight hardware, kept in stock by Aerobotix for immediate deployment within tight coating thickness tolerances.
• Mold In Place (MIP) Coating Tools Automated robotic self-positioning coating tooling system that applies performance coatings directly to aircraft in place, avoiding part removal and featured in F-35 Lightning II assembly operations.
• Robotic Adaptive Scuff Sanding (RASS) System Closed-loop robotic scuff sanding system with real-time surface measurement and adaptive toolpath generation for F-35 surface preparation, expected to cut scuff-sanding time in half.
• C1D1/C2D1 Hazardous Environment Robot Conversion Service Service that converts standard industrial robots to operate safely in Class I Division 1 (C1D1) and Class II Division 1 (C2D1) hazardous environments, including NRTLE certification for defense manufacturing applications.
• System Integration, Installation, and Emergency Support Services On-site system integration, installation, commissioning, training, production start-up, emergency robot support, spares, upgrades, and maintenance services for existing Aerobotix customers, with dedicated emergency support phone line.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% labor reduction on F-22 inlet duct restoration (1,600 hours manual to 300 hours robotic)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature12 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Manufacturing Automation Systems (MAS)coreTechnology or Integration · 30 April 2024Partnership to demonstrate intelligent adaptive sanding technology at Automate 2024. MAS provides QC Plus software enabling robots to scan components, create custom paths, and adapt with zero operator input. Integrates with FerRobotics' ACT for force-controlled sanding.
• FerRoboticscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 September 2022Partnership to develop specialized end-of-arm tooling. Created first C2D1 (Class II, Division 1) rated automated sander for hazardous dust environments. Developed Active Taping Kit (ATK) for precision robotic masking tape application. FerRobotics provides patented Active Compliant Technology (ACT) enabling force control.
• Automated Solutions Australia (ASA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 July 2022International partnership for development, testing, and manufacturing of hypersonic missile coating systems. Enables Australian defense sector access to Aerobotix's automation expertise. Supports AUKUS security pact provisions for hypersonic capabilities. ASA provides sovereign capability in Australia with 20+ years of FANUC robotics experience.
• Minteq International / Pyrogenics GroupcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 9 March 2022Distribution agreement for FIREX RX-2390 thermal protection coating for hypersonic flight hardware. Aerobotix keeps coating in stock for immediate deployment. Enables robotic application within tight tolerances for uniformity and thickness. Partnership addresses Pentagon's hypersonic manufacturing push.
• Compass Technology Group (CTG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 March 2022Partnership to build Adaptive Radome Diagnostic System (ARDS) using mobile robot with Advanced Microwave Mapping Probe (AMMP). First collaborative mobile robot for U.S. Air Force maintenance depots. Won top Defense Manufacturing Technology Achievement Award. Uses FANUC CRX-10iA collaborative robot with LiDAR navigation.
• FANUC America / FANUC RoboticscoreTechnology or IntegrationAerobotix is an Authorized System Integrator of FANUC robots. Uses FANUC industrial robots exclusively in all turnkey systems. FANUC supplies robot hardware while Aerobotix provides integration, custom end-of-arm tools, and application-specific programming. FANUC has recognized Aerobotix with multiple Outstanding Sales Growth Awards and Paint Excellence Award.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• FerRobotics: Austrian specialist in Active Compliant Technology (ACT) end-of-arm tools for force-controlled sanding, taping, and finishing. Co-developer with Aerobotix of the C2D1 sander and Active Taping Kit; a peer in advanced surface-preparation robotic tooling.
• Shape Fidelity: Developer of vision-based part recognition and adaptive path-generation software for robotic painting. Co-developed a coordinated dual-robot painting system with Aerobotix and addresses the same aerospace painting automation problem.
• Electroimpact: U.S. aerospace automation specialist that designs and builds robotic assembly and fastening systems for major defense primes including the F-35. Closest direct peer to Aerobotix in the niche of robotic manufacturing systems for combat aircraft and defense platforms.
• Automated Solutions Australia: Australian FANUC Authorized System Integrator focused on aerospace and defense automation, including hypersonic missile coating under AUKUS. Direct international peer and Aerobotix partner delivering comparable robotic coating/sanding capability in a different geography.
• Compass Technology Group: Defense technology firm that partnered with Aerobotix on the Adaptive Radome Diagnostic System (ARDS), the first collaborative mobile robot for U.S. Air Force maintenance depots. Comparable as a defense maintenance robotics specialist.
• Güdel: Swiss manufacturer of gantry and linear-motion systems used in large aircraft painting and assembly cells. Already an Aerobotix partner for large-aircraft paint cells, and a direct comparable for aerospace robotic paint system integration.

Broad incumbents

• KUKA: Global industrial robot OEM with an aerospace applications group supplying large-format robots for aircraft painting, drilling, and assembly. A broad incumbent whose robot platforms and aerospace integration services overlap with Aerobotix's FANUC-based offering.
• ABB Robotics: Major industrial robot OEM with significant aerospace and defense footprint, offering painting, surface finishing, and inspection robots. Competes for the same aerospace integration wallet as Aerobotix, though at much broader portfolio scale.
• Yaskawa Motoman: Industrial robot manufacturer with aerospace painting, coating, and material handling solutions. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering overlapping painting/sanding robotic technology into aerospace and defense customers.
• Kawasaki Robotics: Global industrial robot OEM with aerospace painting and material handling solutions, including large-format painting robots. Broad incumbent competing for the same aerospace/defense automation opportunities as Aerobotix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Aerobotix_

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aerobotix