Spanish Startup YK-Robotics Raises €1 Million to Make Factory Automation Easier With AI
Industrial robots are widely used in manufacturing, but introducing them into a factory can involve more than purchasing a robotic arm.
Businesses often need to integrate cameras, safety equipment, production machinery and specialised software before a robot can perform its intended task.
Spanish startup YK-Robotics is developing software designed to simplify this process through a platform that allows users to design, program and manage industrial robot systems.
The company has raised €1 million in seed funding to expand its technology and increase deployments across Spain.
Why Factory Automation Can Be Difficult
Industrial robots can perform repetitive tasks with speed and precision, helping manufacturers improve production and reduce manual workloads.
However, programming and integrating these machines often requires specialised engineering knowledge.
Different robot manufacturers may use different programming environments and technical systems. Connecting a robot to cameras, grippers and other production equipment can also require additional development work.
For smaller manufacturers, these technical requirements can make automation expensive and difficult to adopt.
How YK-Platform Works
YK-Robotics has developed YK-Platform, a software environment designed to manage different stages of industrial robot deployment.
The platform supports activities such as cell design, simulation, programming, commissioning, operation and remote support.
It is designed to work with robots from several manufacturers, including KUKA, FANUC, ABB, Universal Robots and other industrial robotics providers.
One of its key features is an AI interface that allows users to describe certain tasks in natural language rather than having to work directly with every manufacturer’s programming language.
The software can translate instructions into the methods and protocols used by the robotic system.
Making Automation More Accessible
Natural-language interfaces could make industrial automation easier for workers who do not have extensive programming experience.
For example, an operator may need to adjust a production task when a factory begins manufacturing a different product.
Instead of manually rebuilding every instruction, a suitable software system could help translate the requested change into a workable programme.
However, industrial automation requires strict safety controls. Instructions must be validated, robot movements must be checked and operators must retain appropriate oversight.
AI-generated instructions cannot simply be trusted because they sound correct.
YK-Robotics says its platform combines AI interaction with deterministic validation and safety-related checks.
What the Funding Will Support
The €1 million seed round was co-led by Draper B1 and First Drop, with participation from other investors.
The company plans to use the funding to deploy more robotic cells across Spain, expand its partner network and develop the natural-language capabilities of its platform.
It is also targeting manufacturers and system integrators that want to simplify the process of introducing or adapting industrial robots.
The Future of Smart Manufacturing
Factories are increasingly combining robotics, software and data to improve production processes.
The next stage of industrial automation may depend not only on developing more advanced robots, but also on making existing machines easier to programme and manage.
YK-Robotics is betting that simpler software interfaces can reduce the technical barriers to automation.
If the platform can deliver reliable results across different machines and manufacturing environments, it could help more businesses adopt robotics without requiring every change to become a major engineering project.
