Refraction AI will use the money for customer acquisition, geographic expansion and product development.
It was launched in July 2019 and co-founded by Matt Johnson-Roberson and Ram Vasudevan, both professors at the University of Michigan.
His REV-1 robot is roughly the size of an electric bike and is legally classified as an e-bike. This one weighs about 100 pounds and is about four feet tall, including its three wheels.
It travels an average of 10 to 15 miles per hour with a very short braking distance, and one compartment holds about six bags of groceries.
“Last Mile Delivery epitomizes a sector ripe for innovation due to a strong confluence of advanced technology, demographics, social values and consumer models,” said Luke Schneider, CEO of Refraction.
“Conventional approaches have left businesses and consumers with few options in this new environment as they struggle to keep pace with increasing demand – weighed down by the cost, regulatory and logistical challenges of an old infrastructure.”
He adds, “Our platform uses today’s technology in innovative ways to bring people the things they need, when they need them, where they live.”
“And in a way that cuts business costs, congests the roads less and eliminates CO2 emissions.”
