NOUSBOT Secures $14.7M Series A for Miniature Robotics & Automotive Actuators
Shenzhen-based Nous Robot (NOUSBOT) has secured over 100 million yuan RMB (approximately $14 million USD as of ) in a Series A funding round, according to information obtained by Hard Krueger. The financing will be used to expand capacity, fund technological research and development, and broaden market reach.
The round was led by Shanghai Semiconductor Industry Investment and Development Co., Ltd., with participation from Lenovo Capital and Incubator Group, and Amber Capital. Notably, Kelei Electric Co., Ltd. And Pengling Co., Ltd., both publicly listed companies in the automotive supply chain, made strategic investments, alongside existing investor SAIC Capital Management Co., Ltd., which increased its stake. This blend of semiconductor, technology, and automotive industry backing signals strong confidence in NOUSBOT’s potential.
Founded in , NOUSBOT focuses on the research, development, and mass production of planetary roller screws and microscopic linear actuators. The company’s core technology centers on miniaturizing these components, critical for precision machinery.
NOUSBOT’s technical leadership is anchored by Professor Xu Genlin, a retired professor from Shanghai University with over 50 years of experience in mechanical manufacturing, serving as a technical advisor. Founder Xu Yang holds a Master’s degree from Tongji University and previously led the Research and Development department for the Asia-Pacific region of Valeo Group, a French automotive supplier. Co-founder Wang Xiaobin was formerly the Deputy General Manager of a Valeo Group branch. The leadership team’s deep roots within Valeo suggest a strong foundation in automotive-grade manufacturing and engineering.
Planetary roller screws are a key component in linear transmission systems. NOUSBOT’s breakthrough lies in achieving what it claims is the world’s smallest size – a diameter of just 1.5mm with a nut diameter of 5.5mm – while maintaining the ability to stably output a 10kg load and boasting a lifespan exceeding 3 million cycles. This miniaturization is a significant achievement in precision manufacturing.
The company has further integrated a brushless motor and a non-contact sensor to create what it describes as the world’s smallest integrated microscopic linear electro-cylinder. This innovation enables independent actuation of each finger in a humanoid robot’s hand, providing high responsiveness and load capacity, and facilitating delicate operations like grasping pills, turning keys, and tying shoelaces. “Our label is the world’s smallest electro-cylinder and the electro-cylinder with the greatest force for the same size,” Xu Yang explained, adding that their design delivers four to five times the force of competitors at a similar scale, directly impacting durability and lifespan.
Beyond miniaturization, NOUSBOT has dramatically improved production efficiency, reducing the unit price of its microscopic planetary roller screw to under 100 yuan RMB, two orders of magnitude lower than current market sample prices. Xu Yang attributes this to a well-established industrial base and mature manufacturing capabilities.
The company’s 1.5mm linear joint system has already been adopted by leading Chinese humanoid robot manufacturers as a core actuator unit for their next-generation models. NOUSBOT is also collaborating with several companies specializing in dexterous hand technology to develop standardized modules. This early adoption suggests a strong market demand for its technology.
Simultaneously, NOUSBOT is leveraging its technology platform to enter the automotive electronic chassis control market. The company is working with multiple Tier 1 automotive suppliers on developing roller screws for rear-wheel steering systems and actuators for zero-gravity seats in intelligent vehicle cabins. This diversification into the automotive sector provides a potentially more stable revenue stream.
Xu Yang stated that orders from industrial capital, such as SAIC, have resulted in the automotive and robotics divisions each accounting for approximately half of the company’s overall business, creating a “humanoid robot + auto” dual-engine growth model. He acknowledged that while humanoid robots hold significant long-term potential, the automotive business offers greater immediate stability.
“It will still take some time for the humanoid robot to truly become commercially viable. The automotive business will bring greater stability to the company. Whether we can bind the most promising customers in the elimination round is the ability that the team must assess in advance,” Xu Yang said. He noted that many automotive applications involve technological upgrades, and customers are waiting for the next generation of products to address issues like noise and failure rates in existing solutions. However, he emphasized that robotics remains the company’s primary focus, with demand for robots increasing rapidly.
Looking ahead, NOUSBOT plans to develop more products this year, establish a testing laboratory for automotive applications, and continue focusing on improving accuracy and lifespan. Specific technological iterations will focus on increasing precision for humanoid robots, which have higher accuracy requirements than automotive applications, and further enhancing lifespan to address potential failure risks associated with miniaturization.
Investor Perspectives:
The team at Shanghai Semiconductor Industry Investment and Development Co., Ltd. Stated: “We are optimistic about the direction of humanoid robots and believe that components are the foundation for the entire industry. NOUSBOT is working on the core components of humanoid robots, planetary roller screws, which have excellent application prospects in high-load scenarios and high technological barriers. Currently, the problem in the industry is that the cost of existing grinding processes and equipment is high and the processing efficiency is low, and high-precision processing equipment is heavily dependent on imports. NOUSBOT has developed a special processing process through more than thirty years of industry-university-research cooperation, which significantly increases productivity and makes the cost advantage visible. Many companies that currently claim to manufacture planetary roller screws for humanoid robots do not actually have mass production capabilities. At the same time, the company has won some leading companies in the humanoid robot and dexterous hand industries and is at the forefront of the industry in terms of commercialization. The company also has products for industrial equipment and automotive applications, especially in the automotive applications, where there may be a large increase. We believe that NOUSBOT has a strong scarcity in the industry and is promising.”
The investment team at SAIC Capital Management Co., Ltd. Commented: “The additional investment in NOUSBOT is based on our in-depth analysis of the humanoid robot industry and on the recognition of the enormous synergy potential between this area and the automotive industry in the reuse of key components. NOUSBOT has a solid technological foundation of thirty years, and its product range includes from conventional spindles, planetary roller spindles to microscopic electro-cylinders and is already used in many growth areas such as automotive tailgate supports, electronic brakes and dexterous hands of robots. We believe that this investment will strengthen the partnership between us and we will jointly seize the opportunities of industrial synergy and technological fusion to accelerate innovation and achieve a long-term future.”