2025年四季度机器人与物理人工智能风险投资趋势（英）

EMERGING TECH RESEARCH Robotics & PhysicalAI VC Trends VC activity across the robotics & physical AI ecosystem REPORT PREVIEWThe full report is available through the PitchBook Platform. Contents Robotics and physical AI landscape3 Institutional Research Group Quarterly analysis4 Ali JavaheriSenior Research Analyst, Emerging Spacesali.javaheri@pitchbook.com Key takeaways pbinstitutionalresearch@pitchbook.com VC activity Published on March 19, 2026 Robotics & physical AI VC deal summary Robotics and physical AIlandscape Industrial roboticsLogistics & warehousingMedicine & healthcareAgriculture & foodConsumer roboticsDefense & securityHardware & componentsSoftware & AI Quarterly analysis •AI and autonomy platforms are emerging as a foundational layer across the robotics ecosystem.Robotics software and AI startups raised $3.4 billion across 124 deals, including $2.5 billioninvested in AI autonomy platforms across 59 deals. Large ǖnancings such as Physical Intelligence’s$600 million early-stage round highlight investor conviction that software platforms capable ofcoordinating robotic systems may capture signiǖcant long-term value across the sector. Key takeaways •Robotics venture investment remained strong in 2025 despite broader VC market normalization.Startups in the sector raised approximately $27.6 billion across 1,009 deals, with quarterly activityremaining stable throughout the year (252 deals in Q1, 263 in Q2, 245 in Q3, and 249 in Q4). Capitaldeployment peaked in Q2 with $11.9 billion invested before stabilizing in the second half of the year,with $5.9 billion raised in Q3 and $5.8 billion in Q4. •Large late-stage ǖnancings are supporting the commercialization and scaling of roboticsplatforms.Several Q4 rounds illustrate the scale of capital required to bring robotics systemsto market. Hadrian raised $391 million to expand automated aerospace manufacturing, Forterraraised $238 million to develop autonomous ground vehicles, and Quantum Systems raised $209.8million to scale its production of uncrewed aerial systems. These deals reǗect growing demand forrobotics platforms capable of supporting industrial and defense applications at scale. •Defense and industrial robotics are now the dominant destinations for venture capital in thesector.Defense & security robotics attracted $8 billion across 234 deals, making it the largestsegment by capital invested, while industrial robotics generated $5.9 billion across 201 deals.Within defense robotics, uncrewed aerial systems accounted for $6.2 billion across 169 deals,highlighting strong investor demand for autonomous ISR and drone technologies. •Strategic acquisitions are increasing as robotics startups reach commercialization maturity.Robotics M&A activity rose to 20 transactions in 2025, up from four deals in 2024, while exitactivity reached 21 exits totaling $156.6 million. Although overall deal value remains modest, theincrease in transaction volume suggests that strategic buyers—including industrial technologyǖrms and defense contractors—are increasingly acquiring robotics startups to integrate autonomy,perception, and automation capabilities into their existing platforms. •Industrial automation continues to scale rapidly as robotics moves from experimentation todeployment.Industrial robotics investment grew 70% YoY, led by assembly & manufacturing robots($4.24 billion across 82 deals). Startups building hazardous-environment robots also raised $681million across 60 deals, reǗecting rising demand for automation in industries such as energy,mining & heavy manufacturing, where safety and labor constraints remain persistent challenges. These trends align closely with broader trailing-twelve-month (TTM) investment patterns across therobotics market. Defense & security robotics attracted $8 billion across 233 deals, making it the largestsegment by capital invested. Industrial robotics followed with $5.9 billion across 201 deals, whileconsumer robotics generated $5.3 billion across 94 deals. VC activity Robotics startups attracted approximately $27.6 billion in venture capital across 1,009 deals in 2025,reǗecting continued investor interest in automation technologies despite normalization across thebroader venture market. Capital deployment Ǘuctuated throughout the year, but deal activity remainedrelatively stable. Investors completed 252 deals in Q1, 263 in Q2, 245 in Q3, and 249 deals in Q4 2025,suggesting sustained participation even as funding values varied. Investment growth in defense robotics has been particularly pronounced, with 138.8% YoY growthin deal value and 41% growth in deal count. The majority of this activity was concentrated inuncrewed aerial systems, which attracted $6.2 billion across 169 deals. Other categories—includinguncrewed maritime systems ($944 million) and uncrewed ground vehicles ($512 million)—also sawrising investment, reǗecting accelerating demand for autonomous systems across military andsecurity applicati