In a manufacturing world grappling with worker shortages, rising costs, and the relentless complexity of “high-mix, low-volume” production, one Greenville-based startup is quietly reimagining what it means for humans and robots to work together. Drobot Inc. is pioneering a new generation of Collaborative Mobile Robots (CMRs) – machines designed not to replace people, but to work with and for them, enhancing productivity and accessibility across the shop floor.
Founded in 2021 by three industry veterans – Stijn Van de Velde (CEO), Ankit Verma (CTO), and Joseph Etris (COO) – Drobot brings together decades of experience spanning manufacturing, logistics, industrial IoT, and autonomous vehicle technologies. Their mission is simple yet transformative: to make automation practical, affordable, and truly collaborative for the thousands of mid-sized manufacturers often left behind by today’s rigid, costly robotics solutions.
“Most manufacturing companies struggle with inefficiencies that cost them 10 to 30 percent of their workers’ time – just finding, fetching, and transferring things,” explains CEO Stijn Van de Velde, a three-time founder with more than 20 years in manufacturing and Industry 4.0 innovation. “At the same time, we’re facing an unprecedented labor shortage. Our robots help close that gap by handling the low-value transport work, so people can focus on the higher-value jobs.”
Chaos-Capable Collaboration
While traditional Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) can only move along predefined paths between fixed workstations, Drobot’s CMRs operate safely and reliably even in tight, cluttered, and dynamic environments – places where people, carts, and machines are constantly in motion. These “chaos-capable” robots are equipped with proprietary software and Real-Time Locating System (RTLS) integration that allows them to find, fetch, and transfer materials, tools, or documents, not only as part of a preplanned route but also on demand and directly between people.
Interacting with a Drobot feels remarkably natural: operators can summon one using voice commands, hand gestures, or even the press of a simple button. The robot then navigates its environment autonomously, guided by Drobot’s proprietary localization and control algorithms. “We wanted our robots to be as easy to use as clicking a button,” says Ankit Verma, who previously spent years developing autonomous vehicles, including autonomous race cars and last-mile delivery robots.
Behind this intuitive simplicity lies a sophisticated software platform developed entirely in-house. The system – known internally as CIVIC – includes a proprietary localization and controls stack, task and fleet manager, admin portal, mobile app, and multimodal interaction layers. It represents years of R&D in robotics, artificial intelligence, and human-robot interaction, supported by multiple patents (one granted, one continuation-in-part, and one provisional) and growing intellectual property around Drobot’s RTLS-robot communication “language.”
Human-Centered Automation for the Mid-Market
What sets Drobot apart isn’t just its technology, but its focus on accessibility. By offering its robots as a Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) subscription, Drobot enables mid-sized manufacturers – who are often priced out of automation – to gain immediate productivity benefits without major upfront investment.
“Manufacturing automation shouldn’t be a privilege reserved for Fortune 500 plants,” notes Joseph Etris, an expert in Real-Time Locating Systems and manufacturing execution. “We built Drobot to give every factory the chance to compete, no matter its size.”
From Greenville to Global
Drobot’s journey from concept to commercialization has been swift and focused. Since incorporation in 2021, the company has completed a successful proof-of-concept and multiple pilot deployments, including at a multi-billion-dollar fiber optics manufacturer. Additional pilots are now underway or in negotiation with leading names across aerospace, automotive, and heavy equipment sectors.
Guiding the company’s scaling strategy is Bert Bruggeman, former Executive Vice President of Automotive Manufacturing at Tesla, who serves as an advisor to the CEO. “Bert’s experience industrializing and scaling cutting-edge technologies has been invaluable,” Van de Velde shares.
Drobot’s roots in South Carolina are no coincidence. Greenville has rapidly become a hub for advanced manufacturing innovation, providing fertile ground for startups that blend engineering depth with industrial pragmatism. “We’re proud to be building this in South Carolina,” says Van de Velde. “There’s a spirit of making things here – real, tangible things – that perfectly aligns with what we’re doing.”
The Future of “Find, Fetch, Transfer”
Looking ahead, Drobot plans to expand its offerings beyond manufacturing, exploring applications in logistics, healthcare, construction, and defense. Yet the vision remains grounded in the same principle: Driving Productivity Through Human-Centered Automation.
“Our robots aren’t about replacing humans,” Van de Velde emphasizes. “They’re about giving people the tools to do their best work – and creating factories that are safer, smarter, and more productive.”
With its growing team, expanding IP portfolio, and pilot successes, Drobot is positioning itself as one of South Carolina’s most promising technology ventures – transforming everyday shopfloor chaos into coordinated, human-centered performance.
