Overview

Overview

THE BIG PICTURE

How Atomgigs works: sources, catalysts and buyers

Atomgigs does not build machines. It helps makers go to market, advises buyers and delivers work done and data.

Sources (3)Where the machines and people come from
We offer
  • Go-to-market: where, how and to whom
  • Gigs: jobs for their machines and talent

Paid by Makers: GTM fees; buyers: per gig

Catalysts (3)Who funds, insures, approves and brings the projects
We offer
  • Advice and investor diligence
  • Project bidding and execution

Paid by Catalysts: advice, projects

Numbers 01 to 12 are primer numbers: each box has its own detailed primer.

AT A GLANCE

Enablers at a glance: ten facts.

Ten numbers and developments that show why financiers, insurers, platforms and regulators now shape every deployment.

01

Machines are arriving.

5.08M industrial robots operate worldwide; 603,000 were installed in 2025, up 11%.

02

The U.S. is the number-two market.

About 38,400 installed in 2025, up 12%; North American orders reached 36,766 robots worth $2.25B.

03

Capital is available.

U.S. equipment finance is a $1.3T market; monthly new volume hit a record $14.3B in July 2026.

04

A service fee keeps the robot on the maker's books.

Agility Robotics' filings model a humanoid at about $8,500 a month plus $25,000 to deploy (ballpark, not a quote).

05

Financiers fund the makers.

Lessors such as DLL and Mitsubishi HC Capital finance robot leases and as-a-service contracts.

06

Insurance is splitting in two.

Optional generative AI exclusions are spreading: 2,369 filings across 49 states by mid-2026.

07

Specialist cover exists.

Lloyd's-backed AI liability policies offer limits up to $25M per insured.

08

Safety standards just moved.

ISO 10218 was reissued in January 2025; its U.S. version, R15.06, followed in September 2025.

09

Drone rules are still pending.

The FAA's final rule for flights beyond visual line of sight has been at the White House since July 2026.

10

The gap is operating proof.

Financiers, insurers and regulators all ask for evidence that real deployments run safely.

Chapter 1

Why enablers matter

How a deal closes, the four enabler groups, adoption blockers, why now.

SUB-CHAPTER 1.1

How a deal closes

Six gates, six parties, and where Atomgigs sits.

A physical AI deal clears six gates

8

Four groups pay, insure, run and approve

10

One pilot, six parties

9

1 WHY ENABLERS MATTER · 1.1 HOW A DEAL CLOSES

A physical AI deal clears six gates.

Machines are only the second gate; money, cover, clearance and operations decide whether a pilot reaches production.

  1. 11 Need

    The client names a task, what it costs today and the date a result is needed. WHO DECIDES Client

  2. 22 Machines

    A machine maker or integrator fits robots, drones or vehicles to the task. WHO DECIDES OEM, integrator

  3. 33 Money

    Someone funds the machines: a purchase, a lease or a monthly service fee. WHO DECIDES Financier, lessor, OEM

  4. 44 Cover

    An insurer prices the risk of damage, injury, downtime and cyber events. WHO DECIDES Insurer, broker

  5. 55 Clearance

    The site, standards bodies and regulators sign off that the operation is safe and legal. WHO DECIDES Safety team, OSHA, FAA

  6. 66 Operate

    Software runs the fleet and people supervise it, with data fed back to every party. WHO DECIDES Platform, operator

Atomgigs works across all six gates, so a pilot is designed from day one to clear the ones that come later.

1 WHY ENABLERS MATTER · 1.1 HOW A DEAL CLOSES

One pilot, six parties.

Each party decides something different and needs to see something different before it says yes.

PartyDecidesNeeds to see
Client (the site)Whether the task is worth automatingA cost per task and a plan for the people involved
Machine maker (OEM)What it will sell, lease or run as a serviceA site with a clear task and a funded commitment
Financier or lessorWhether to fund the machines, and on what termsClient credit, machine resale value, proof the machines get used
Insurer or brokerWhether to cover the risk, and at what priceA risk assessment, safety design and an operating plan with human oversight
Software and AI platformHow machines are connected, monitored and updatedAccess to site systems, fleet size and data rights
Regulator or standards bodyWhether the operation meets the rulesA safety case, test records and, for drones, an approval or waiver
The same pilot has to answer six different questions. Evidence gathered once can serve all of them.
1 WHY ENABLERS MATTER · 1.1 HOW A DEAL CLOSES

Four groups pay, insure, run and approve.

These are the enablers: the organizations that sit around the machine and decide whether it can work at scale.

Financiers and lessors | Pay

Insurers and brokers | Cover

Software and AI platforms | Run

Regulators and standards bodies | Approve

  • Fund the purchase, lease or service contract
  • Banks, lessors and vendor-finance arms
  • Ask: will this machine be used enough to repay?
  • Examples: DLL, Mitsubishi HC Capital, U.S. Bank
  • General liability, product, cyber, workers' comp
  • Specialist AI liability from Lloyd's coverholders
  • Ask: what happens if it fails or injures someone?
  • Examples: Armilla, Axis, HSB, Marsh
  • Fleet management, simulation, data, orchestration
  • Connect robots to site systems and each other
  • Ask: can many machines run as one system?
  • Examples: fleet managers, simulators, AI model providers
  • OSHA, FAA, NIST and standards bodies such as ISO and A3
  • Rules, standards and test methods for safe use
  • Ask: is it safe, and can you show it?
  • Examples: OSHA, FAA, NIST, ISO, A3

Atomgigs sits between the client and these four groups. It brings the machines, the people, a structured pilot and the operating data each group asks for.

SUB-CHAPTER 1.2

The four enabler groups

Who they are, what they ask, and the words they use.

Each group asks one question

12

Needs change from pilot to scale

14

Nine terms to know

13

1 WHY ENABLERS MATTER · 1.2 THE FOUR ENABLER GROUPS

Each group asks one question.

Behind each question is a short list of things the group reviews and things that help it say yes.

  1. 1Financiers and lessors

    Will the machine earn its keep? WHAT THEY REVIEW Client credit, machine resale value, expected hours of use

  2. 2Insurers and brokers

    What if it goes wrong? WHAT THEY REVIEW Safety design, the task and site, human oversight, past incidents

  3. 3Software and AI platforms

    Can it run as one system? WHAT THEY REVIEW Open interfaces, data rights, the update process, security

  4. 4Regulators and standards bodies

    Is it safe, and can you show it? WHAT THEY REVIEW Conformity with standards, test records, waivers where required

WHAT HELPS THEM SAY YES

Pilot data on uptime and tasks completed; a signed multi-year commitment

WHAT HELPS THEM SAY YES

A risk assessment, safety audits, geofencing and trained supervisors

WHAT HELPS THEM SAY YES

Clear access to site systems and a defined fleet size and data plan

WHAT HELPS THEM SAY YES

A written safety case and test evidence for the exact setting

All four groups ask for the same thing in different words: evidence from real operation.

1 WHY ENABLERS MATTER · 1.2 THE FOUR ENABLER GROUPS

Nine terms to know.

Enablers use a shared vocabulary; these nine terms come up in almost every conversation.

TermPlain meaning
RaaS (robots as a service)The client pays a recurring fee to use a robot that the provider owns and maintains.
Residual valueWhat a machine is expected to be worth at the end of a lease or financing term.
Assignment financingA financier buys a maker's future customer payments and pays the maker cash up front.
Coverholder or MGAA firm that underwrites insurance for an insurer under delegated authority, often for a niche risk.
Silent AIRisk from AI that a policy neither covers nor excludes by name.
Safety caseA structured argument, with evidence, that a machine is safe in its setting.
Fleet orchestrationSoftware that assigns tasks across many robots and links them to site systems.
Consensus standardA technical standard written by industry and experts, such as ISO 10218.
Waiver or exemptionRegulator permission to operate outside a standing rule, such as flying drones beyond visual line of sight.
1 WHY ENABLERS MATTER · 1.2 THE FOUR ENABLER GROUPS

Needs change from pilot to scale.

A typical pattern: light touch at pilot, heavier documentation in production, portfolio thinking at scale.

FinanciersOften none: the client or maker funds a small testLease, loan or service-fee capital behind the machinesPortfolio facilities and resale-value assumptions
GroupPilotProductionScale
InsurersExisting liability extended after a site risk reviewDedicated product, cyber and workers' comp reviewFleet-level terms; accumulation risk reviewed
PlatformsVendor tools or a small pilot setupIntegration with site systems and monitoringMulti-site fleet orchestration and data pipelines
RegulatorsSite safety assessment against current standardsDocumented safety case and operator trainingRepeatable approvals; waivers or new rules for drones

Starting the evidence trail at the pilot makes each later step faster and cheaper to clear.

SUB-CHAPTER 1.3

Adoption blockers

Cost, liability, interoperability and proof of safety.

Four blockers slow adoption

16

Interoperability is the third blocker

19

Capex is the first blocker

17

Safety proof is the fourth blocker

20

Liability is the second blocker

18

How enablers remove each blocker

21

1 WHY ENABLERS MATTER · 1.3 ADOPTION BLOCKERS

Four blockers slow adoption.

Each blocker has a matching enabler group that can ease it.

1

Capex

Machines cost more than most sites can fund from operating budgets.

EASED BY

Financiers and lessors

2

Liability

It is unclear who pays when a machine injures someone or damages property.

EASED BY

Insurers and brokers

3

Interoperability

Machines from different makers must share tasks, maps and data.

EASED BY

Software and AI platforms

4

Safety proof

Sites need evidence a machine is safe in their setting before it runs.

EASED BY

Regulators and standards bodies

None of the four is a technology problem alone. Each needs a financier, insurer, platform or regulator to say yes.

1 WHY ENABLERS MATTER · 1.3 ADOPTION BLOCKERS

Capex is the first blocker.

Agility Robotics' 2026 SEC filings model one Digit humanoid two ways: buy it, or pay a monthly service fee.

  • About $200,000 upfront per humanoid
  • About $20,000 to deploy
  • About $36,000 a year for software and maintenance
  • The client carries resale and obsolescence risk

Buy the machine

  • About $8,500 a month per humanoid
  • About $25,000 to deploy
  • The maker keeps the robot on its own books
  • The maker needs capital to build the fleet

Pay a monthly service fee

$61,000per robot: 36,766 robots ordered for $2.25B. A humanoid costs several times more than the average industrial robot.

A maker's modeled example, not an Atomgigs price. Typical ballpark values from public sources, not quotes.

A service fee moves cost from capex to opex for the client. The capital still has to come from a financier.

1 WHY ENABLERS MATTER · 1.3 ADOPTION BLOCKERS

Liability is the second blocker.

Standard policies are adding AI exclusions while specialist insurers build cover for AI-driven machines.

2,369generative AI exclusion filings across 49 states by mid-2026

Armilla AI

Standalone AI liability from a Lloyd's coverholder, up to $25M per insured

Chaucer with Armilla

Vanguard AI program for AI-driven businesses (Feb 2026)

HSB (Munich Re)

AI liability product for small and mid-size businesses (Mar 2026)

Testudo

AI liability cover with $9.25M of capacity, backed by Atrium and QBE

Axis

Program for companies that make and deploy autonomous robots

Specialist cover is arriving

1 Jan 2026

Optional exclusion forms CG 40 47, CG 40 48 and CG 35 08 became available to U.S. liability insurers

Whether a robot's control software counts as generative AI depends on each policy's wording, so clients should read it before they deploy.

1 WHY ENABLERS MATTER · 1.3 ADOPTION BLOCKERS

Interoperability is the third blocker.

Real sites run machines from several makers; open interfaces are what let them work as one fleet.

  • Each maker ships its own controller and app
  • Mixed fleets need one view of tasks, maps and status
  • Switching makers is costly when data is locked in
  • Insurers and financiers prefer systems they can monitor end to end

Why it blocks adoption

VDA 5050

A common language between mobile robots from different makers and one fleet controller

Open interface

What it does

OPC UA, with its robotics specification

A standard way to expose robot and machine data to other systems

ROS 2

Open-source robot software framework that many makers build on

Software and AI platforms are the enablers that turn a collection of machines into one managed fleet.

1 WHY ENABLERS MATTER · 1.3 ADOPTION BLOCKERS

Safety proof is the fourth blocker.

Regulators, insurers and sites all want evidence; standards define what good evidence looks like.

1

Hazard analysis of the task and site

The evidence stack

ISO 10218-1 and -2

Industrial robot safety, reissued January 2025

Standard or rule

Status

2

Machine design to a recognized standard

ANSI/A3 R15.06-2025

U.S. adoption, published September 2025; adds cybersecurity

3

Test records in the real setting

ISO 25785-1

Legged and dynamically stable industrial mobile robots; committee draft

4

Operating procedures and trained supervisors

FAA Part 108

Drone flights beyond visual line of sight; proposed August 2025, final rule under White House review since 10 July 2026

5

Incident logs and continuous operating data

Proof builds over time. A pilot that logs safe operation produces the evidence every enabler asks for.

1 WHY ENABLERS MATTER · 1.3 ADOPTION BLOCKERS

How enablers remove each blocker.

Each enabler group addresses one blocker; Atomgigs assembles the evidence each of them needs.

CapexFinanciers and lessorsLease, loan or service-fee capital spreads the cost over the machine's lifeA structured pilot and utilization data a financier can underwrite
BlockerEnablerHow it helpsWhat Atomgigs adds
LiabilityInsurers and brokersCover priced to the task, site and controls in placeRisk assessments and operating records insurers ask for
InteroperabilityPlatformsOpen interfaces and orchestration across makersVendor-neutral integration planning with the client's systems
Safety proofRegulators and standards bodiesStandards and approvals define what counts as proofSite safety assessments and documented procedures

Atomgigs' role is to assemble the evidence each enabler needs, so pilots can move to production.

SUB-CHAPTER 1.4

Why now

Machines, capital, insurance and rules are all moving at once.

Machines are arriving

23

Insurance is moving two ways

26

Humanoids are entering warehouses

24

Rules are being written

27

Capital is ready

25

1 WHY ENABLERS MATTER · 1.4 WHY NOW

Machines are arriving.

Industrial robot installs and stock hit new highs in 2025, and the U.S. moved to second place.

603,000industrial robots installed worldwide in 2025, up 11%
5.08Mindustrial robots in operation worldwide, up 9%
38,400installed in the U.S., up 12%; the U.S. is now second to China
+24%professional service robots, to 250,000 units
  • 36,766 robots ordered for $2.25B: units up 6.6%, revenue up 10.1%
  • Collaborative robots: 7,212 units worth $241M
  • Every one of these machines needs funding, cover, software and a safety sign-off

North America, 2025 orders

More machines in more sites means more deals that need money, cover, software and clearance.

1 WHY ENABLERS MATTER · 1.4 WHY NOW

Humanoids are entering warehouses.

New machine types arrive faster than finance and insurance products for them.

  • Few resale markets exist for humanoids yet
  • Service-fee models put the machine on the maker's books

Why financiers care

Humanoids are entering warehouses.
  • Machines work near people in shared space
  • Software updates change behavior after delivery

Why insurers care

A humanoid robot handling boxes and bins in a warehouse, with a worker in the background.

What you are seeing

Image: Apptronik

New machines widen the gap between what exists and what enablers can price. Evidence from real sites closes it.

1 WHY ENABLERS MATTER · 1.4 WHY NOW

Capital is ready.

U.S. equipment finance is large, growing and led by technology and AI equipment.

$1.3TU.S. equipment finance market

8 in 10

businesses use financing to acquire equipment

$14.3Brecord monthly new business volume, July 2026
+16.8%new business volume, year to date through July 2026
  • Universal Robots offers collaborative robot leasing through DLL, with options to buy, upgrade, extend or return at the end of term
  • Mitsubishi HC Capital America finances makers' as-a-service contracts, and can buy the payment stream to give the maker cash up front
  • Robot dealers route customers to equipment lenders such as Ascentium, Conners Financial and U.S. Bank

Robot financing is already available

The money exists. What financiers ask for is evidence that machines will be used and will hold their value.

1 WHY ENABLERS MATTER · 1.4 WHY NOW

Insurance is moving two ways.

Standard policies are adding AI exclusions while specialists build products for AI-driven machines.

  • Verisk's ISO unit published optional generative AI exclusion forms, available since 1 January 2026
  • 2,369 exclusion filings were on record across 49 states by mid-2026
  • Underwriters worry about overlapping lines, shared responsibility and one software update or cloud outage hitting many insureds at once

Pulling back

  • Armilla AI, Chaucer, HSB and Testudo have launched standalone AI liability products
  • Axis has a program for companies that make and deploy autonomous robots
  • Skyward and Apollo launched the ibott autonomous vehicle program, with Marsh

Moving in

Insurers reward evidence of human oversight, geofencing, safety audits and AI governance.

1 WHY ENABLERS MATTER · 1.4 WHY NOW

Rules are being written.

Standards were reissued in 2025, and the drone rule that unlocks long-range flights is still pending.

Jan 2025

ISO 10218-1 and -2 published

Aug 2025

FAA proposes Part 108 for flights beyond visual line of sight

Sep 2025

ANSI/A3 R15.06-2025 published, adds cybersecurity

10 Jul 2026

FAA sends the final Part 108 rule to White House review

End of 2026

FAA hopes to publish the final Part 108 rule

2026-27

ISO 25785-1 for legged industrial robots expected

Rules are being set now. Pilots run today can be built to meet them.

Chapter 2

Financing

Ways to pay for machines, who provides what, financiers and lessors, structures and underwriting, residuals, utilization and obsolescence.

SUB-CHAPTER 2.1

Ways to pay for machines

Seven routes, the tax rules and outcome pricing.

Seven routes pay for a machine

30

Pay for capacity and outcomes, not fixed prices

33

Each route puts cost and risk in a different place

31

Warehouse robots are paid for by the task

34

Tax rules favor buying equipment in 2026

32

2 FINANCING · 2.1 WAYS TO PAY FOR MACHINES

Seven routes pay for a machine.

Each route trades upfront cash, ownership and flexibility differently.

RouteHow it worksWho holds the machineTypical fit
Cash purchaseThe client pays in full and owns the machine.ClientProven task, strong balance sheet
Equipment loanA lender funds the machine; the client repays with interest.Client, with a lien to the lenderOwner who wants the asset and the tax benefit
Finance leasePayments cover the machine's cost; ownership passes at the end for a small buyout.Lessor until the end, then clientLong-lived machines used for years
Operating leaseThe lessor keeps ownership; the client uses the machine for a term and returns it.LessorFast-changing technology
Robots as a serviceA monthly fee covers the machine, software, support and often upgrades.Maker or fleet ownerClients that want to start small and scale
Pay per useCharges follow picks, hours, flights or tasks completed.Maker or fleet ownerVariable demand, outcome-based contracts
Vendor programThe maker offers its own or a partner's financing at the point of sale.Varies by programClients that want one counterparty

There is no single best route. The right one depends on how sure the client is of the task, the machine's life and the tax position.

2 FINANCING · 2.1 WAYS TO PAY FOR MACHINES

Each route puts cost and risk in a different place.

The same machine can look very different on a client's books and in its risk profile.

RouteUpfront cashAppears asResidual value riskMaintenance and upgrades
Cash purchaseHighestAn owned assetClientClient or a service contract
Equipment loanLow to moderateAn owned asset and a debtClientClient or a service contract
Finance leaseLowA leased asset and a liabilityClient, by the end of termUsually client
Operating leaseLowA leased asset and a liability under current lease accountingLessorOften bundled or separate
Robots as a serviceLowestOften an operating cost; the contract terms decideMaker or fleet ownerUsually included
Pay per useLowestAn operating costMaker or fleet ownerIncluded

Clients should have their finance team read the contract, because the accounting treatment follows its terms and not its label.

2 FINANCING · 2.1 WAYS TO PAY FOR MACHINES

Tax rules favor buying equipment in 2026.

Two U.S. provisions let a business write off most or all of an equipment purchase in the year it starts using it.

$2.56MSection 179 expensing limit for 2026
$4.09MEquipment spend where the Section 179 limit starts to phase out
$6.65MSpend at which the Section 179 limit is fully phased out
100%Bonus depreciation, now permanent for property acquired after 19 January 2025
  • Used equipment can qualify if it is new to the buyer
  • Leases and service fees follow different rules, so the route changes the tax result
  • Clients should check treatment with their own tax adviser before choosing a route

What clients should know

Tax treatment can tip a client toward buying over a service fee. Atomgigs models both so the client sees the full picture.

2 FINANCING · 2.1 WAYS TO PAY FOR MACHINES

Pay for capacity and outcomes, not fixed prices.

Contracts increasingly link what the client pays to what the machines deliver.

  1. 1Per unit of work

    Charges follow picks, deliveries, inspections or square meters covered AutoStore offers a pay-per-pick option Fits clients with seasonal or uneven demand

  2. 2Per unit of capacity

    A monthly fee for a set number of machines or hours Locus Robotics runs every offering as a service and owns the robots Fits clients that want certainty on cost

  3. 3Shared performance

    The fee rises or falls with a measured result RightHand Robotics offers lease and shared-performance models Fits clients that want the maker to share the risk

  4. 4Bundled hardware and service

    One contract covers the machine and years of support Skydio bundles drone hardware with multi-year service Fits clients that want one counterparty

Atomgigs does not quote fixed prices. The client pays for capacity and outcomes, and the contract says how both are measured.

2 FINANCING · 2.1 WAYS TO PAY FOR MACHINES

Warehouse robots are paid for by the task.

Palletizing, unloading and picking suit pay-per-use contracts, because the work can be counted.

  • Each carton or pick is a measurable unit
  • Volume swings with the season

Why it fits

Warehouse robots are paid for by the task.
  • A clear definition of a completed task
  • A way to log it that both sides trust

What the contract needs

A robot palletizer stacking cases at the end of a line. Each case and each pallet is a unit that can be counted and billed.

What you are seeing

Photo: Killgore1138, CC0

Work that can be counted can be priced per unit, and the log becomes the invoice and the financier's evidence.

SUB-CHAPTER 2.2

Who provides what

What makers offer themselves and what third parties fund.

Makers write most as-a-service contracts

36

Three ownership models sit behind the monthly fee

38

Capital sits behind the maker

37

2 FINANCING · 2.2 WHO PROVIDES WHAT

Makers write most as-a-service contracts.

In robots as a service, the maker usually owns the fleet and the client pays a monthly fee.

125Customers served by Locus Robotics across 300+ sites in 2023
$1.33BRobots-as-a-service market in 2023, one analyst estimate
$4.12BProjected market in 2030, a 17.5% annual growth rate
  • Locus Robotics offers all its robots as a service and owns every robot
  • Körber's as-a-service program draws on Locus robots
  • AutoStore, RightHand Robotics and Skydio sell through leases, per-use fees or bundled service
  • The maker, not a third party, holds the contract with the client in most cases

What the market shows

The maker owns the service contract and the client relationship. Capital sits behind the maker.

2 FINANCING · 2.2 WHO PROVIDES WHAT

Capital sits behind the maker.

Financiers fund the maker or buy its contract payments, so the maker can offer a monthly fee.

  1. 11 Financier

    A lessor or lender provides capital to the maker or to the fleet. WHO DLL, Mitsubishi HC Capital

  2. 22 Maker

    The maker builds or buys the robots and signs the service contract. WHO Locus, Skydio, others

  3. 33 Client

    The client uses the machines and pays a monthly fee. WHO Pays for capacity

  4. 44 Payments

    The maker collects fees and can sell the payment stream to a financier. WHO Assignment financing

Mitsubishi HC Capital America buys makers' as-a-service payment streams, which gives the maker cash up front.

2 FINANCING · 2.2 WHO PROVIDES WHAT

Three ownership models sit behind the monthly fee.

Who owns the robots decides who carries the residual value and who handles upkeep.

  • The maker keeps the robots on its books and funds them with its own capital
  • Most common today
  • Examples: Locus Robotics

Maker-owned fleet

  • A financier funds the robots or buys the payment stream
  • The maker still runs the service
  • Examples: DLL, Mitsubishi HC Capital

Financier-owned or financed fleet

  • An independent company owns the robots for any maker and rents them out
  • Still rare
  • Example: ARO, launched in December 2022

Third-party fleet owner

Atomgigs can bring a financier and a client together and structure the deal. It does not own the fleet.

SUB-CHAPTER 2.3

Financiers and lessors

The named banks, lessors and lenders active in robotics.

Three groups of financiers fund robots

40

Collaborative robots are leased through lessors

42

Named financiers already back robotics

41

Equity funding for physical AI is accelerating

43

2 FINANCING · 2.3 FINANCIERS AND LESSORS

Three groups of financiers fund robots.

Each group has a different appetite, speed and price.

  • Large leasing arms of banks and manufacturers
  • DLL, Mitsubishi HC Capital America
  • Dealer-routed lenders: Ascentium, Conners Financial, U.S. Bank
  • Want proven machines and credit-worthy clients

Lessors and captive finance

  • Lend to makers and fleets that banks pass over
  • Trinity Capital, Triple Point Capital, ATEL, Horizon Technology Finance
  • Combine venture debt with equipment loans
  • Want contracts, a funded balance sheet and a path to revenue

Specialist and venture lenders

  • Fund the makers and model developers
  • Fund growth, not individual machines
  • Their rounds set how fast new machines reach the market
  • Want proof of repeat deployments

Equity investors

Atomgigs works with all three groups: lessors for client fleets, lenders for makers, and investors for the market they watch.

2 FINANCING · 2.3 FINANCIERS AND LESSORS

Named financiers already back robotics.

Examples of the financiers active in robotics today.

FinancierTypeWhat it does in robotics
DLLLessorOffers collaborative robot leasing for Universal Robots with options to buy, upgrade, extend or return
Mitsubishi HC Capital AmericaLessorFinances makers' as-a-service contracts and buys the payment streams
Ascentium, Conners Financial, U.S. BankDealer-routed lendersFinance robot purchases that dealers route to them
Trinity CapitalVenture and equipment lenderProvides venture debt and equipment financing to growth companies
Triple Point CapitalEquipment lenderMakes equipment loans, including to robotics companies
ATELLessor and venture lenderLeases equipment and lends to ventures; financed a Verdant Robotics project
Horizon Technology FinanceVenture lenderLends to venture-backed technology companies

These names show the kinds of capital available. Terms depend on the client, the machine and the contract.

2 FINANCING · 2.3 FINANCIERS AND LESSORS

Collaborative robots are leased through lessors.

Smaller robot arms are an established leasing asset.

  • Mature product with a known resale market
  • Short, repeatable tasks with clear payback

Why lessors like them

Collaborative robots are leased through lessors.
  • Buy, upgrade, extend or return at the end of term
  • DLL offers this for Universal Robots

Lease options

A collaborative-robot palletizer on a mobile frame, which its maker also offers as robots-as-a-service: a monthly fee instead of a purchase.

What you are seeing

Photo: CollaborativePalletizer, CC BY-SA 4.0

Collaborative arms show how a mature robot category gets financed. Newer categories follow the same path as evidence builds.

2 FINANCING · 2.3 FINANCIERS AND LESSORS

Equity funding for physical AI is accelerating.

Robotics startups raised more than $27B in January to September 2026, already above any prior full year.

~$15B

Robotics startup funding in 2025, the previous record (Crunchbase)

$27B+Robotics startup funding, January to September 2026 (Crunchbase)
$9.9BRaised in Q3 2026 alone, against $4.3B in Q3 2025 (Crunchbase)
  • Skild AI raised $1.4B, bringing its total to more than $2B
  • Apptronik added a $520M extension, taking its Series A to $935M, at a valuation above $5B (February 2026)
  • Physical Intelligence raised $600M in a Series B at $5.6B (November 2025)
  • Humanoid (UK) raised $152M in a Series A at $1.35B (July 2026)
  • Skydio raised $110M at $4.4B (April 2026); Zipline raised $600M (January 2026)

Recent large rounds

Equity funds the makers. Debt and leases fund the machines. Both are growing, and each asks for deployment evidence.

SUB-CHAPTER 2.4

Structures and underwriting

How deals are built and what lenders check.

Five structures fund a fleet

45

Contract terms decide who carries the risk

47

Lenders check six things before they fund

46

2 FINANCING · 2.4 STRUCTURES AND UNDERWRITING

Five structures fund a fleet.

The structure sets who owns the robots, who carries the risk and how the financier gets repaid.

  • Lender funds the purchase and takes a lien on the machine
  • Client owns the machine from day one

Equipment loan

  • Lessor owns the machine until the end of term
  • Client buys it for a small amount at the end

Finance lease

  • Lessor owns the machine and bears resale risk
  • Client can return, renew or upgrade

Operating lease

  • Maker sells its contract payments to a financier
  • Maker gets cash up front, financier gets the income

Payment-stream sale

  • Loan to a maker or fleet owner, often with warrants
  • Funds growth between equity rounds

Venture debt

Atomgigs helps a client choose the structure that fits the task, the machine's life and the client's balance sheet.

2 FINANCING · 2.4 STRUCTURES AND UNDERWRITING

Lenders check six things before they fund.

The checks are the same whether the money comes from a bank, a lessor or a venture lender.

They checkBecauseEvidence that helps
Client creditThe client's payments repay the loanFinancial statements, contract commitment
Machine valueThe machine is the collateralMaker track record, resale market, condition records
UtilizationIdle machines do not earn or repayPilot logs of hours worked and tasks completed
Maker strengthThe maker supports and updates the machineFunding, service coverage, spare parts plan
Insurance and safety recordAccidents can stop operations and destroy valuePolicies, risk assessments, incident logs
Contract termsTerms decide who pays when something failsService levels, indemnities, end-of-term options

The same pilot data answers all six checks. That is why Atomgigs designs pilots to capture it from day one.

2 FINANCING · 2.4 STRUCTURES AND UNDERWRITING

Contract terms decide who carries the risk.

Counsel for funders and clients focus on a short list of terms.

TermQuestion to answer
Liens and securityWhich party holds a claim on the machine, and does it cover software and data?
Lease or loanIs this a true lease or a financing in disguise, and who is treated as owner?
Service levelsWhat uptime is promised, and what happens when it is missed?
Software updatesWho may change the software, and who pays if an update causes a loss?
End of termCan the client return, buy, renew or upgrade, and at what price basis?
Default and recoveryCan the financier take the machine back, and who can operate it?

A law firm reviewing robotics funding flagged liens, lease versus loan, and end-of-term options as the points that matter most (October 2026).

SUB-CHAPTER 2.5

Residuals, utilization and obsolescence

The three risks that set the price.

Three risks set the price of money

49

End-of-term options protect both sides

50

2 FINANCING · 2.5 RESIDUALS, UTILIZATION AND OBSOLESCENCE

Three risks set the price of money.

Residual value, utilization and obsolescence are what financiers worry about most.

  • What the machine is worth at the end of the term
  • Few resale markets exist for newer robot types
  • Lessors price this risk into the payment

Residual value

  • How many hours the machine works
  • Idle machines cannot repay
  • Pilot data is the best predictor

Utilization

  • New models can make older ones less useful
  • Software updates can extend or shorten a machine's life
  • Shorter terms and upgrade rights limit the exposure

Obsolescence

Operating evidence reduces all three. A financier can price a machine with a logged record better than one with a promise.

2 FINANCING · 2.5 RESIDUALS, UTILIZATION AND OBSOLESCENCE

End-of-term options protect both sides.

Leases written for robots usually give the client four choices when the term ends.

  1. 1Buy

    The client pays an agreed price and keeps the machine. BEST WHEN Fits stable tasks

  2. 2Renew

    The client extends the lease, often at a lower payment. BEST WHEN Fits steady use

  3. 3Upgrade

    The client swaps for a newer model and starts a new term. BEST WHEN Fits fast-moving technology

  4. 4Return

    The client hands the machine back and the lessor remarkets it. BEST WHEN Fits uncertain demand

DLL's collaborative robot program offers all four. Atomgigs helps clients pick the option that fits the task.

SUB-CHAPTER 2.6

Drone and fleet financing

Financing aircraft, equipment and mixed fleets.

Drone financing mixes hardware, service and cover

52

Heavy equipment is familiar to lenders

54

Drone makers are raising large amounts

53

2 FINANCING · 2.6 DRONE AND FLEET FINANCING

Drone financing mixes hardware, service and cover.

Drone makers and operators use four models, often combined.

Sell with financingVolatus AerospaceA financing program through a partner lets clients finance any hardware
ModelExampleHow it works
Hardware plus multi-year serviceSkydioThe client buys drones bundled with years of service and support
Lease with insurancesenseFly (earlier program)A lease and insurance bundle for terms of up to 36 months
Sell, lease or operateSkywaysThe same company sells the drone, leases it, or flies it for the client

For clients that do not want to own aircraft, flying as a service moves the machine and the regulatory burden to the operator.

2 FINANCING · 2.6 DRONE AND FLEET FINANCING

Drone makers are raising large amounts.

Capital is flowing into companies that build and fly drones at commercial scale.

$110MSkydio Series F at a $4.4B valuation (April 2026)
$600MZipline raised (January 2026)
$3.5BSkydio's planned "Skyforge" investment
  • Makers with strong funding can offer service contracts and absorb support costs
  • Lenders favor makers with repeat customers and recurring service revenue
  • Insurers and regulators will see more drones in more places, and want more data

What this means for enablers

More funded makers mean more fleets that need financing, cover and approvals.

2 FINANCING · 2.6 DRONE AND FLEET FINANCING

Heavy equipment is familiar to lenders.

Autonomy on construction machines brings fleet financing closer to an existing market.

  • Construction equipment has an established used market
  • Autonomy adds software that changes how the machine earns

Why lenders care

Heavy equipment is familiar to lenders.
  • Hours worked per week and tasks completed
  • Who is liable if an autonomous machine causes damage
  • How software updates are controlled

What they will ask

An autonomous excavator or pile driver of the kind built by Built Robotics, working a construction site. The machine looks like conventional heavy equipment.

What you are seeing

Image: Built Robotics

Construction fleets can be financed like other heavy equipment once utilization and safety data exist.

SUB-CHAPTER 2.7

How pilots and data de-risk

Turning a pilot into something a financier can fund.

A pilot becomes a financeable fleet in five steps

56

How Atomgigs works with financiers

58

A financier asks for six kinds of data

57

2 FINANCING · 2.7 HOW PILOTS AND DATA DE-RISK

A pilot becomes a financeable fleet in five steps.

Each step creates the evidence the next party asks for.

  1. 11 Scope

    Define the task, the site and the measure of success. OUTPUT Signed pilot plan

  2. 22 Run

    Operate the machines with trained people in the lead. OUTPUT Operating log

  3. 33 Measure

    Track hours, tasks completed, stops and incidents. OUTPUT Utilization report

  4. 44 Package

    Combine results, safety records and contract terms. OUTPUT Financing package

  5. 55 Structure

    Match the client and the machines to a financier. OUTPUT Term sheet

A financier funds a machine with a logged record faster than one with a forecast.

2 FINANCING · 2.7 HOW PILOTS AND DATA DE-RISK

A financier asks for six kinds of data.

A well-run pilot captures all six.

DataWhy it mattersWhere it comes from
Hours workedShows the machine earns its keepFleet software logs
Tasks completedLinks cost to the work doneSite systems and robot logs
Downtime and causesShows reliability and support qualityMaintenance records
Safety eventsShows the risk of loss or stoppageIncident log, near-miss reports
Operator and supervisor hoursShows the true labor cost of the machineShift records
Condition at end of pilotSupports residual value estimatesInspection reports

Atomgigs sets up data capture before the pilot starts, so the package is ready when the financier asks.

2 FINANCING · 2.7 HOW PILOTS AND DATA DE-RISK

How Atomgigs works with financiers.

Atomgigs structures the deal and supplies the evidence. Financiers supply the capital.

  1. 1Brings parties together

    Introduces financiers to clients with funded pilots Acts in a structuring role, not a lending role

  2. 2Supplies the evidence

    Utilization, downtime and safety data from pilots Risk assessments and operating records

  3. 3Stays vendor-neutral

    Works across makers, so the financier sees options Helps match machines to the client's task

  4. 4Keeps humans in the lead

    People supervise the machines in every pilot Procedures, training and records are part of the package

Financiers get a clearer view of what they fund. Clients get terms that reflect what the machines actually do.

Chapter 3

Insurance and risk

The risk picture, lines of cover, silent AI and exclusions, specialist AI and robotics cover, insurers and brokers, what underwriters ask for.

SUB-CHAPTER 3.1

The risk picture

Where human-machine risk comes from and who is exposed.

Risk can sit with four parties

61

Failures at scale are already visible

64

Robots go where people are most exposed

62

3 INSURANCE AND RISK · 3.1 THE RISK PICTURE

Risk can sit with four parties.

When a machine causes a loss, responsibility may fall on any link in the chain.

  1. 1Manufacturer

    Designs and builds the machine Exposed to product defects and recalls Buys product liability and recall cover

  2. 2Software developer

    Writes the AI models and control software Exposed to wrong decisions and faulty updates Buys technology errors and cyber cover

  3. 3Integrator

    Fits the machine to the site and the task Exposed to design and installation errors Buys professional and general liability

  4. 4Operator (client)

    Runs the machine and supervises it Exposed to injury, damage and downtime Buys general liability, property and workers' comp

The contract chain decides who pays. Atomgigs helps clients check that indemnities match the way the work is really shared.

3 INSURANCE AND RISK · 3.1 THE RISK PICTURE

Robots go where people are most exposed.

The case for sending a machine is often the hazard, and the hazard shapes the risk.

  • Fewer people enter dangerous areas
  • Inspection data is captured the same way each time

The upside

Robots go where people are most exposed.
  • A fall or a collision can damage the machine and the asset
  • Insurers ask who supervises it and what it may touch

The new exposure

A legged robot climbing steel stairs on an offshore platform.

What you are seeing

Image: ANYbotics

The question for insurers is whether the new risk is smaller than the one it replaces, and who is accountable.

3 INSURANCE AND RISK · 3.1 THE RISK PICTURE

An oil refinery seen from the air.

An oil refinery seen from the air.
WHAT YOU ARE SEEING
  • Process units, piping, tanks and stacks spread over hundreds of acres at a U.S. refinery.
  • Inspection rounds here cover heat, height, pressure and gas exposure.
  • Sites like this are where legged and crawler robots take on rounds first, and where insurers look hardest at who controls them.

Photo: Tylervigen, CC BY 4.0

3 INSURANCE AND RISK · 3.1 THE RISK PICTURE

Failures at scale are already visible.

Recalls and early insurance products show the market is reacting to real events.

3,871Waymo robotaxis recalled in June 2026
2025China Pacific launched a robot lifecycle policy, "Ji Zhi Bao"

Aug 2026

Insurance broker WTW published a guide to insuring physical AI

  • Trade press reports that insurers are not yet ready for warehouse robots
  • Liability may sit with the manufacturer, the software developer, the integrator or the operator
  • The main lines affected are general liability, product liability and cyber

What the market is saying

Insurers are learning from early losses. Clients who bring evidence of safe operation get better terms.

SUB-CHAPTER 3.2

Lines of cover

Liability, product, cyber, workers' comp, property and aviation.

Six lines of cover touch a robot deployment

66

Drone cover is priced by the hour or by the year

67

3 INSURANCE AND RISK · 3.2 LINES OF COVER

Six lines of cover touch a robot deployment.

Most losses will fall under policies the client already holds, so the wording matters.

LineWhat it coversHow it applies to robots
General liabilityInjury or damage to third partiesCovers a machine that hurts a visitor or damages a neighbor's property, unless an exclusion applies
Product liabilityHarm caused by a defective productHeld by the maker; the client needs to know it exists
Technology errors and omissionsFailure of software or servicesCovers wrong decisions by the software or the platform
CyberData loss, ransomware, system damageCovers hacked machines and stolen data; physical damage may need extensions
Workers' compensationInjury to employeesApplies when a worker is hurt near a machine
Property and equipment breakdownDamage to the machine and the siteCovers the robot itself and downtime after a failure

Clients should ask their broker how each policy treats AI-driven machines before the pilot starts.

3 INSURANCE AND RISK · 3.2 LINES OF COVER

Drone cover is priced by the hour or by the year.

Drone insurance is a mature, specialist market with clear price points.

~$10

Per hour for on-demand $1M liability cover

$300-800Per year for a $1M liability policy
$660-1,440Per year for hull and payload cover
$25MTop liability limit through a specialist aviation broker
  • Global Aerospace underwrites programs sold through SkyWatch.AI and Verifly
  • Some hull programs are open only to pilots certified under FAA Part 107
  • The drone insurance market is estimated at $1.57B in 2025, growing to $4.10B by 2035

Good to know

Typical ballpark values from public sources, not quotes.

Drone cover is available today. The harder questions are for larger aircraft and flights beyond visual line of sight.

SUB-CHAPTER 3.3

Silent AI and exclusions

What the new exclusions mean for robot operators.

Silent AI hides in old policies

69

Three questions find the gaps

70

3 INSURANCE AND RISK · 3.3 SILENT AI AND EXCLUSIONS

Silent AI hides in old policies.

Silent AI is risk from AI that a policy neither covers nor excludes by name.

1 Jan 2026

Optional exclusion forms CG 40 47, CG 40 48 and CG 35 08 became available to U.S. liability insurers

2,369Exclusion filings across 49 states by mid-2026
3 waysA policy may cover AI, exclude it or say nothing
  • A general liability policy with a generative AI exclusion may not respond to a loss caused by AI software
  • Wording varies, so the same event can be covered under one policy and excluded under another
  • Insurers are moving from silence to explicit terms

Why it matters for robots

Clients should find out now whether their policies exclude AI, and whether the exclusion reaches robotics.

3 INSURANCE AND RISK · 3.3 SILENT AI AND EXCLUSIONS

Three questions find the gaps.

Brokers and risk managers can use this checklist before a pilot starts.

Does the general liability or umbrella policy carry a generative AI exclusion, and does it reach robotics?

Exclusion forms CG 40 47, CG 40 48 and CG 35 08 may apply to AI-driven machines

Question

Why it matters

Who bears liability for a loss caused by software?

The maker, the developer, the integrator and the operator may each point to another

Does the contract indemnity reflect the chain of responsibility?

A gap between the contract and the policies leaves the client exposed

Answers to these three questions shape which specialist cover, if any, a client needs.

SUB-CHAPTER 3.4

Specialist AI and robotics cover

The new products and the firms behind them.

Specialist AI and robotics cover is arriving

72

Affirmative cover names the risk

73

3 INSURANCE AND RISK · 3.4 SPECIALIST AI AND ROBOTICS COVER

Specialist AI and robotics cover is arriving.

Insurers, Lloyd's coverholders and specialist managing agents have launched products for AI-driven machines.

ProviderProduct or program
Armilla AI, with ChaucerStandalone AI liability that names AI risk, with limits up to $25M per insured
TestudoAI liability cover with $9.25M of capacity, backed by Atrium and QBE
HSBAI liability product for insured businesses
Munich Re and AXA XLAI insurance products for technology and corporate clients
AxisProgram for companies that make and deploy autonomous robots
Skyward and Apollo, with Marshibott program for autonomous vehicles
China Pacific"Ji Zhi Bao" policy covering a robot across its life, launched in 2025

These products are new. Limits, wording and pricing are still being set, and each insurer asks for evidence of governance and safety.

3 INSURANCE AND RISK · 3.4 SPECIALIST AI AND ROBOTICS COVER

Affirmative cover names the risk.

Specialist products differ from a standard policy in three ways.

  • Wording names AI-driven decisions and errors
  • Removes doubt about silent AI

It says AI is covered

  • Underwriters expect in-depth review of AI governance and controls
  • Expect questions on testing, monitoring and human oversight

It asks for governance

  • Often an addition to general liability, cyber and product cover
  • Limits are separate and may be lower

It sits beside the core program

Specialist cover works best when the client can show how people supervise the machine and how incidents are handled.

SUB-CHAPTER 3.5

Insurers and brokers

Named carriers, specialists and brokers by group.

Four kinds of insurer and broker serve physical AI

75

3 INSURANCE AND RISK · 3.5 INSURERS AND BROKERS

Four kinds of insurer and broker serve physical AI.

Named examples by group. Presence on the list is not an endorsement.

Global carriers and reinsurersSwiss Re, Munich Re, AXA XL, AIG, Tokio Marine, Berkshire Hathaway (General Re), Axis, Lloyd's syndicatesWrite liability, property and cyber; reinsure the specialists
GroupExamplesRole
Aviation and drone insurersGlobal Aerospace, Starr, Allianz Commercial, AIG Aerospace, Old Republic, AvionCover aircraft, payload and liability
On-demand and program providersSkyWatch.AI, Verifly, Thimble, FlockSell short-term or per-flight drone cover
BrokersMarsh, WTW, BWI Aviation, Founder Shield, Transport Risk ManagementPlace cover, negotiate wording, advise on structure

A broker who knows robotics matters as much as the insurer, because wording and placement drive the outcome.

SUB-CHAPTER 3.6

What underwriters ask for

The evidence pack that wins cover.

Underwriters ask for evidence of control

77

3 INSURANCE AND RISK · 3.6 WHAT UNDERWRITERS ASK FOR

Underwriters ask for evidence of control.

Insurers reward evidence of human oversight, safe zones, audits and AI governance.

They askWhat answers it
Who supervises the machines?Named supervisors, shift plans, escalation steps
Where can the machines go?Geofences, safe zones, exclusion areas, site map
What happens when something fails?Emergency stop, safe state, incident plan, staff training
How are updates controlled?Staged roll-out, approval steps, rollback plan, version log
How is AI governed?Policy, testing records, monitoring, named accountable person
What is the record?Hours run, incidents, near misses, audits and corrective action

A single evidence pack, built during the pilot, answers most of what an underwriter asks.

SUB-CHAPTER 3.7

Accumulation and fleet risk

When one update can affect many machines at once.

One update can reach every machine

79

Controls limit how far a fault spreads

80

3 INSURANCE AND RISK · 3.7 ACCUMULATION AND FLEET RISK

One update can reach every machine.

Machines that share software share failures, so losses can arrive together.

  1. 11 Update

    The maker or platform releases new software. RISK Looks routine

  2. 22 Push

    The update goes to the fleet, sometimes all at once. RISK Speed raises exposure

  3. 33 Fault

    A flaw or an attack affects many units. RISK Correlated risk

  4. 44 Claims

    Several clients and policies are hit at the same time. RISK Accumulation

Reinsurers warn that a faulty software update or a cyberattack can hit many units at once.

3 INSURANCE AND RISK · 3.7 ACCUMULATION AND FLEET RISK

Controls limit how far a fault spreads.

Insurers look for the same five controls in a fleet deployment.

  • Update a few units first and watch
  • Widen only when results are clean

Staged roll-out

  • Machines stop safely when a fault is found
  • Humans can take over

Safe-state design

  • Machine networks apart from office systems
  • Limits the reach of an attack

Network separation

  • Do not depend on a single supplier for every task
  • Spreads software risk

Vendor mix

  • Agreed liability caps and indemnities
  • Notice duties when an update goes wrong

Clear contract limits

Atomgigs builds these controls into the operating plan, so the insurer can see them.

SUB-CHAPTER 3.8

How Atomgigs lowers risk

The operating model, mapped to underwriter questions.

Inspection robots can lower exposure

82

Atomgigs practices map to underwriter questions

83

3 INSURANCE AND RISK · 3.8 HOW ATOMGIGS LOWERS RISK

Inspection robots can lower exposure.

Sending a machine into a hazardous space can reduce human exposure, if the machine is controlled.

  • Fewer people enter hot, high or confined areas
  • Regular inspection data supports maintenance planning

Where risk falls

Inspection robots can lower exposure.
  • A moving machine near workers needs clear rules
  • Software faults and cyber events become new causes of loss

Where risk rises

A four-legged ANYmal inspection robot beside electrical switchgear, with workers nearby in a facility.

What you are seeing

Image: ANYbotics

The insurer asks whether the new risk is smaller than the one it replaces. Evidence from a pilot answers that.

3 INSURANCE AND RISK · 3.8 HOW ATOMGIGS LOWERS RISK

Atomgigs practices map to underwriter questions.

Humans in the lead, physical AI in the loop.

Who is in charge?

Trained people supervise every deployment and can stop the machines

Underwriter question

Atomgigs practice

Is the task suited to the machine?

Site assessment and task scoping before the pilot

How is safety proven?

Risk assessment, procedures, training and audit records

Can the loss history be seen?

Incident and near-miss logs shared with the insurer

Who else is involved?

Contract chain mapped across maker, integrator, platform and client

Insurers see a plan, a record and a named owner. That is what moves price and appetite.

Chapter 4

Software and AI platforms

The software stack, operating systems and middleware, fleet management, simulation and digital twins, AI models for robots, data and model operations.

SUB-CHAPTER 4.1

The software stack

Seven layers from models to site systems.

Seven layers of software run a deployment

86

Platform buyers ask four questions

87

4 SOFTWARE AND AI PLATFORMS · 4.1 THE SOFTWARE STACK

Seven layers of software run a deployment.

Each layer has its own vendors, standards and risks.

1 Site systemsWarehouse, plant, building and project software the machines must work with Procore, Autodesk, Trimble, Bentley

1 Site systems

2 Fleet managementAssigns tasks, tracks machines, pushes updates, raises alerts InOrbit, Formant

2 Fleet management

3 Robot operating softwareMiddleware that connects sensors, motors and planning ROS 2, maker stacks

3 Robot operating software

4 AI modelsModels that perceive, plan and act Physical Intelligence, Gemini Robotics, NVIDIA GR00T

4 AI models

5 SimulationVirtual worlds to test and train before the site NVIDIA Isaac Sim, MuJoCo, Gazebo

5 Simulation

6 Data and model operationsCapture, label, train, monitor and improve Foxglove, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud

6 Data and model operations

7 SecurityProtects machines, networks and data Claroty, Dragos, Nozomi Networks

Software is where a deployment is won or lost. Atomgigs chooses the stack to fit the site and does not favor one vendor.

4 SOFTWARE AND AI PLATFORMS · 4.1 THE SOFTWARE STACK

Platform buyers ask four questions.

Software vendors and their investors look for the same proof as financiers and insurers.

  1. 1Does it work on a real site?

    Evidence beyond demonstrations Hours run and tasks completed

  2. 2Does it fit with what we have?

    Open interfaces and standards Links to site systems and other makers' machines

  3. 3Is it safe and secure?

    Safety case and security controls Update control and rollback

  4. 4Does it scale?

    From one machine to a fleet Support and monitoring at volume

Atomgigs pilots give platform vendors a real site, real operators and real data.

SUB-CHAPTER 4.2

Operating systems and middleware

ROS 2, vendor stacks and edge computing.

Machines run on open and vendor-specific stacks

89

Open stacks and maker stacks trade off differently

91

Autonomy can be added to existing machines

90

4 SOFTWARE AND AI PLATFORMS · 4.2 OPERATING SYSTEMS AND MIDDLEWARE

Machines run on open and vendor-specific stacks.

The operating layer connects sensors, motors and planning software.

  1. 1ROS 2

    Open-source robot middleware used widely in research and industry Large developer community Not a safety system by itself

  2. 2Maker stacks

    Closed software from the robot maker Tested with the hardware Harder to mix with other makers' machines

  3. 3Edge computing

    Onboard computers such as NVIDIA Jetson Thor run AI models on the machine Keeps decisions fast and local

  4. 4Safety controller

    A separate, certified layer that stops the machine Does not depend on the AI model

Atomgigs keeps the safety layer separate from the AI layer, which is what safety standards and insurers expect.

4 SOFTWARE AND AI PLATFORMS · 4.2 OPERATING SYSTEMS AND MIDDLEWARE

Autonomy can be added to existing machines.

A retrofit kit adds sensors and software to conventional heavy equipment.

  • Software now controls the machine
  • Updates and logs matter as much as the iron

What changes

Autonomy can be added to existing machines.
  • The base machine, its owner and its lender
  • Site safety rules and human supervision

What stays the same

An autonomy kit mounted on an excavator, with its sensors and compute above the cab.

What you are seeing

Image: Built Robotics

Retrofits split the stack between the machine maker and the software maker, so contracts must say who is responsible for what.

4 SOFTWARE AND AI PLATFORMS · 4.2 OPERATING SYSTEMS AND MIDDLEWARE

Open stacks and maker stacks trade off differently.

Neither is better in every case.

FlexibilityHigh; mix machines and componentsLower; tied to one maker
QuestionOpen stack (for example ROS 2)Maker stack
SupportCommunity plus integratorsMaker supports one product
Integration effortMore work for the integratorLess work, less choice
Safety and securityAdded and tested by the integratorTested by the maker for its own system
Switching laterEasierHarder

Atomgigs weighs these trade-offs for each client and documents the choice.

SUB-CHAPTER 4.3

Fleet management

Assigning, tracking and updating many machines.

Fleet software keeps many machines working as one

93

VDA 5050 is an interface, not a brain

95

Fleet software manages mobile robots

94

4 SOFTWARE AND AI PLATFORMS · 4.3 FLEET MANAGEMENT

Fleet software keeps many machines working as one.

A fleet platform turns a group of robots into a managed service.

  1. 1Assign

    Gives tasks to the right machine Balances work across the fleet

  2. 2Monitor

    Shows location, battery, faults and status Raises alerts to a human

  3. 3Update

    Pushes software in stages Rolls back if something fails

  4. 4Record

    Logs hours, tasks and incidents Feeds the data financiers and insurers ask for

The fleet platform is also the source of the evidence for every other enabler.

4 SOFTWARE AND AI PLATFORMS · 4.3 FLEET MANAGEMENT

Fleet software manages mobile robots.

Autonomous mobile robots are the most common machines run by fleet platforms.

  • Assigns jobs and routes
  • Shows status, faults and battery

What the platform does

Fleet software manages mobile robots.
  • Hours and tasks completed
  • Stops and incidents

What it records

An autonomous mobile robot of the type used to move goods in warehouses and factories.

What you are seeing

Photo: Auledas, CC BY 4.0

The same log that runs the fleet also feeds the lender, the insurer and the safety file.

4 SOFTWARE AND AI PLATFORMS · 4.3 FLEET MANAGEMENT

VDA 5050 is an interface, not a brain.

One shared language lets a master control system direct robots from different makers.

  • A standard from the German automotive and machinery associations VDA and VDMA
  • Uses MQTT messaging
  • Defines how orders and states pass between a controller and a vehicle

What it is

  • It does not decide how a robot navigates or avoids people
  • It does not replace safety systems

What it is not

  • Master control platforms such as InOrbit
  • Makers of automated guided vehicles and mobile robots

Who uses it

Support for open interfaces such as VDA 5050 is a practical test of whether a platform will mix with other makers.

SUB-CHAPTER 4.4

Simulation and digital twins

Testing a deployment before it reaches the site.

Simulation lets teams test before the site

97

Simulation tools are mature

98

4 SOFTWARE AND AI PLATFORMS · 4.4 SIMULATION AND DIGITAL TWINS

Simulation lets teams test before the site.

Virtual testing is cheaper and safer than learning on a live floor.

  1. 1Layout and flow

    Test aisle widths, routes and handoffs Find bottlenecks before purchase

  2. 2Safety scenarios

    Rehearse rare events, such as a person stepping into a path Check stopping distances

  3. 3Training data

    Generate varied images and scenes for AI models Fill gaps real data cannot cover

  4. 4Digital twin

    A live virtual copy of the site Shows how a change would affect the whole operation

Simulation does not replace a live pilot, but it narrows what the pilot has to prove.

4 SOFTWARE AND AI PLATFORMS · 4.4 SIMULATION AND DIGITAL TWINS

Simulation tools are mature.

Typical tools by use.

Isaac SimNVIDIAPhotorealistic robot simulation and synthetic data
ToolMakerUsed for
CosmosNVIDIAWorld models that generate varied training scenes
MuJoCoGoogle DeepMindFast physics for robot learning research
GazeboOpen Robotics communityOpen-source simulation that works with ROS

Atomgigs uses simulation to shorten pilots and to build the safety case.

SUB-CHAPTER 4.5

AI models for robots

Foundation models and where they are proven.

Foundation models are reaching robots

100

Models propose; people and safety systems lead

101

4 SOFTWARE AND AI PLATFORMS · 4.5 AI MODELS FOR ROBOTS

Foundation models are reaching robots.

Large models trained on many tasks now guide perception and action in machines.

Model or companyApproach
Physical Intelligence (π0, π0.5)General-purpose models for robot control
Google DeepMind Gemini RoboticsModels offered to builders through an API
NVIDIA Isaac GR00TOpen models for humanoid robots; version N1.7 is licensed for commercial use
Skild AI (Skild Brain)One model for many robot bodies
Microsoft Rho-alphaA vision-language-action model for robot manipulation
Figure AI, IntrinsicHumanoid and industrial robot AI developers

The models are advancing fast. Evidence from real sites, not demonstrations, is what financiers and insurers still ask for.

4 SOFTWARE AND AI PLATFORMS · 4.5 AI MODELS FOR ROBOTS

Models propose; people and safety systems lead.

How enablers think about AI models inside a machine.

  • Recognize objects and scenes
  • Follow natural-language instructions
  • Adapt to variation in a task

What models do well

  • Behavior can change with new data or updates
  • Failures can be hard to explain
  • Performance on a demo may not hold on a busy site

Where care is needed

  • How was the model tested for this task?
  • What stops the machine if the model is wrong?
  • Who approves a model update?

What enablers ask

Humans in the lead, physical AI in the loop: the model proposes, a safety layer and a person decide when it matters.

SUB-CHAPTER 4.6

Data and model operations

Capturing, labeling, training and monitoring.

Every site visit produces data

103

Data and model operations form a loop

104

4 SOFTWARE AND AI PLATFORMS · 4.6 DATA AND MODEL OPERATIONS

Every site visit produces data.

A legged robot walking a construction site captures images, maps and sensor readings.

  • Images and 3D scans of progress
  • Machine health and location logs

What gets captured

Every site visit produces data.
  • Data improves the models over time
  • Records support safety, insurance and finance

Why it matters

A legged Spot robot on a construction site with rebar, the kind of mobile inspection robot used for site capture.

What you are seeing

Image: Trimble

Data is the asset that grows with every deployment. Atomgigs plans for its capture, use and ownership from the start.

4 SOFTWARE AND AI PLATFORMS · 4.6 DATA AND MODEL OPERATIONS

Data and model operations form a loop.

Capture, label, train and monitor, then repeat.

  1. 11 Capture

    Sensors and logs record what happened. OUTPUT Raw data

  2. 22 Label

    People mark what the data shows. OUTPUT Training sets

  3. 33 Train

    Models are updated and tested in simulation. OUTPUT New version

  4. 44 Release

    The update goes to a few machines, then the fleet. OUTPUT Staged roll-out

  5. 55 Monitor

    Performance and incidents are watched. OUTPUT Feedback

A clean loop with human approval at the release step is what insurers and safety teams want to see.

SUB-CHAPTER 4.7

Integration with site systems

Linking machines to warehouse, plant and building systems.

Machines must connect to site systems

106

Layout robots link to the building model

107

4 SOFTWARE AND AI PLATFORMS · 4.7 INTEGRATION WITH SITE SYSTEMS

Machines must connect to site systems.

Integration is where many pilots stall.

Warehouse and inventory systemsOrders, locations and stock levelsApplication interfaces and middleware
Site systemWhat the machine needs from itCommon link
Plant and production systemsMachine states and schedulesOPC UA, including the VDMA 40010 robotics specification
Building and project softwareDrawings, models and schedulesProcore, Autodesk, Trimble, Bentley interfaces
Fleet and mobile robot controlOrders and vehicle stateVDA 5050
Identity and accessWho may operate or approveDirectory services and role-based access

Open standards reduce integration cost. Atomgigs favors them and documents any exceptions.

4 SOFTWARE AND AI PLATFORMS · 4.7 INTEGRATION WITH SITE SYSTEMS

Layout robots link to the building model.

On a job site, machines take their instructions from project software.

  • Plans from the building model become marks on the floor
  • Progress flows back into project software

The link

Layout robots link to the building model.
  • A wrong model means a wrong mark
  • Version control matters on a live site

The risk

A layout robot marking a concrete floor while two site workers look on, with a surveying instrument in view.

What you are seeing

Image: Dusty Robotics

Integration with project systems is a practical test of whether a deployment can scale across sites.

SUB-CHAPTER 4.8

Cybersecurity

Protecting machines that can move.

Moving machines raise the cost of a cyber event

109

Four frameworks guide robot security

110

4 SOFTWARE AND AI PLATFORMS · 4.8 CYBERSECURITY

Moving machines raise the cost of a cyber event.

A compromised robot can harm people and property, not just data.

  • Stolen credentials and remote access
  • Tampered updates
  • Ransomware that stops operations

Threats

  • Network separation
  • Signed updates and rollback
  • Least-privilege access and logging

Controls

  • Operational technology security tools
  • Claroty, Dragos, Nozomi Networks are typical providers

Monitoring

Security is also a safety issue. ANSI/A3 R15.06-2025 added cybersecurity requirements for industrial robots.

4 SOFTWARE AND AI PLATFORMS · 4.8 CYBERSECURITY

Four frameworks guide robot security.

Insurers and customers refer to these frameworks when they ask for proof.

IEC 62443Industrial automation and control systems securitySecuring the machine and its network
FrameworkScopeUsed for
NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0Organization-wide security outcomesGoverning and reporting on cyber risk
NIST AI Risk Management FrameworkManaging AI risk across its lifecycleAI governance and testing
ANSI/A3 R15.06-2025U.S. industrial robot safety, with cybersecurity addedRobot safety and security together

A client that maps its controls to these frameworks answers most insurer security questions in one document.

SUB-CHAPTER 4.9

Named platforms

Typical category leaders by layer.

Typical category leaders by layer

112

4 SOFTWARE AND AI PLATFORMS · 4.9 NAMED PLATFORMS

Typical category leaders by layer.

Examples only; Atomgigs is vendor-neutral and chooses by fit.

LayerTypical leaders
CloudAWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud
AI modelsPhysical Intelligence, Google DeepMind, NVIDIA, Skild AI, Microsoft
SimulationNVIDIA Isaac Sim, MuJoCo, Gazebo
Fleet management and dataInOrbit, Formant, Foxglove
Operational technology securityClaroty, Dragos, Nozomi Networks
Project and site softwareProcore, Autodesk, Trimble, Bentley

Names show the kinds of platforms in use. Inclusion is not an endorsement.

SUB-CHAPTER 4.10

How Atomgigs works with platforms

Vendor-neutral selection and integration.

Atomgigs stays vendor-neutral

114

4 SOFTWARE AND AI PLATFORMS · 4.10 HOW ATOMGIGS WORKS WITH PLATFORMS

Atomgigs stays vendor-neutral.

Platforms get a real site and clear requirements. Clients get a stack that fits their task.

  1. 1Selects

    Compares stacks against the site, the task and the client's systems Documents why one choice was made

  2. 2Integrates

    Plans links to site systems and open interfaces Keeps the safety layer separate

  3. 3Tests

    Uses simulation, then a staged pilot Captures the evidence for insurers and financiers

  4. 4Operates

    Trained people supervise the fleet Updates are approved and logged

A neutral integrator lets platform vendors compete on fit, and gives clients a record they can show their enablers.

Chapter 5

Regulators and standards (U.S.)

The U.S. rulebook, OSHA and workplace safety, robot safety standards, mobile and legged robots, drones and the FAA, cybersecurity and AI governance.

SUB-CHAPTER 5.1

The U.S. rulebook

Who regulates what.

Several U.S. agencies each cover a piece

117

Three layers make up the rulebook

118

5 REGULATORS AND STANDARDS (U.S.) · 5.1 THE U.S. RULEBOOK

Several U.S. agencies each cover a piece.

No single U.S. rulebook covers physical AI.

BodyWhat it coversTouches physical AI through
OSHAWorkplace safetyMachine guarding, lockout/tagout and the General Duty Clause
FAAAircraft and airspaceDrone registration, pilot rules, waivers and beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights
FCCRadio equipmentWireless links used by robots and drones
NHTSA and statesVehicles on public roadsAutonomous road vehicles and delivery robots
FDAMedical devicesRobots used in care and surgery
NISTStandards and guidanceTest methods, cybersecurity and AI risk frameworks
StatesState lawAI governance laws, such as Colorado and California

Atomgigs maps which rules apply to a task before the pilot begins.

5 REGULATORS AND STANDARDS (U.S.) · 5.1 THE U.S. RULEBOOK

Three layers make up the rulebook.

Laws set the floor. Standards define good practice. Contracts and site rules fill the rest.

  • Binding on everyone in scope
  • Issued by agencies and legislatures
  • Examples: OSHA rules, FAA Part 107

Laws and regulations

  • Written by industry and standards bodies
  • Voluntary, but courts, insurers and customers treat them as the benchmark
  • Examples: ISO 10218, ANSI/A3 R15.06

Consensus standards

  • Set by the client, the insurer and the lender
  • Often stricter than the law
  • Examples: site safety plan, insurance warranties

Contracts and site rules

A deployment that follows the standards is usually easier to insure, finance and defend.

SUB-CHAPTER 5.2

OSHA and workplace safety

How the workplace regulator treats robots.

OSHA has no robot-specific standard

120

Employers are expected to do five things

122

Workers stand close to machines

121

5 REGULATORS AND STANDARDS (U.S.) · 5.2 OSHA AND WORKPLACE SAFETY

OSHA has no robot-specific standard.

OSHA applies general rules to robots, and points employers to consensus standards.

  1. 1General Duty Clause

    Employers must keep the workplace free of recognized serious hazards Used when no specific standard fits

  2. 2Machine guarding

    29 CFR 1910.212 Requires guards against hazards from moving parts

  3. 3Lockout/tagout

    29 CFR 1910.147 Controls hazardous energy during servicing

  4. 4Technical Manual

    OSHA guidance includes a chapter on industrial robots Points to ANSI/A3 standards

Employers carry the duty. A client that follows the ANSI/A3 standards has the strongest answer if OSHA asks.

5 REGULATORS AND STANDARDS (U.S.) · 5.2 OSHA AND WORKPLACE SAFETY

Workers stand close to machines.

The employer's duty applies wherever people and equipment share a work area.

  • Hazards assessed and guarded
  • Workers trained, and energy controlled during service

What OSHA looks for

Workers stand close to machines.
  • A written risk assessment
  • Records of training and checks

What helps

Two site workers standing a few meters from an excavator working at night on a beach replenishment job.

What you are seeing

Photo: Szeremeta, CC BY-SA 4.0

With no robot-specific rule, the employer's records are the strongest evidence of safe operation.

5 REGULATORS AND STANDARDS (U.S.) · 5.2 OSHA AND WORKPLACE SAFETY

Employers are expected to do five things.

The same steps apply to a traditional machine and to a robot.

  1. 11 Assess

    Identify hazards from the machine and the task. RECORD Risk assessment

  2. 22 Guard

    Fit barriers, sensors and stops. RECORD Safeguards

  3. 33 Train

    Teach workers how to work near the machine. RECORD Training records

  4. 44 Control energy

    Lock out the machine before servicing. RECORD Procedures

  5. 55 Review

    Check after changes, incidents and updates. RECORD Records

Atomgigs builds these records during the pilot, so the client has them on day one of production.

SUB-CHAPTER 5.3

Robot safety standards

The standards stack by machine type.

A stack of standards defines robot safety

124

Different machines follow different standards

126

Industrial arms follow the R15.06 standard

125

5 REGULATORS AND STANDARDS (U.S.) · 5.3 ROBOT SAFETY STANDARDS

A stack of standards defines robot safety.

From machine design to cybersecurity.

StandardCoversStatus
ISO 10218-1 and -2Industrial robot safetyReissued January 2025
ANSI/A3 R15.06-2025U.S. adoption of ISO 10218, with cybersecurity addedPublished September 2025
ISO/TS 15066Collaborative operation, where robots and people share spaceIn use
ISO 12100General principles of risk assessment for machineryIn use
ISO 13849 and IEC 61508Safety-related control systemsIn use
ISO 25785-1Legged and dynamically stable industrial mobile robotsCommittee draft

Standards are updated every few years. Atomgigs tracks them and builds pilots to the newest version.

5 REGULATORS AND STANDARDS (U.S.) · 5.3 ROBOT SAFETY STANDARDS

Industrial arms follow the R15.06 standard.

The best-known robot safety standard covers fixed arms in factories.

  • Design and safeguarding of the robot and its cell
  • Integration, with cybersecurity added in 2025

What it covers

Industrial arms follow the R15.06 standard.
  • Makers and integrators
  • Insurers and site safety teams

Who uses it

A yellow industrial robot arm working on a production line.

What you are seeing

Photo: Phasmatisnox, CC BY 3.0

A cell built to the current edition is the starting point for approval and insurance.

5 REGULATORS AND STANDARDS (U.S.) · 5.3 ROBOT SAFETY STANDARDS

Different machines follow different standards.

Start with the machine type, then find the rule.

MachineMain U.S. standard or rule
Industrial robot armsANSI/A3 R15.06-2025
Autonomous mobile robotsANSI/A3 R15.08 series
Industrial trucks and automated vehiclesANSI/ITSDF B56.5; ISO 3691-4
Legged industrial robotsISO 25785-1, in draft
DronesFAA rules, including Part 107
Service robotsUL 3300

A mixed fleet may follow several standards at once. The safety case should list each.

SUB-CHAPTER 5.4

Mobile and legged robots

R15.08, ISO 3691-4 and the legged-robot gap.

Mobile robots now have a full U.S. standard series

128

Legged robots work in unstructured places

130

Legged robots are still waiting for a standard

129

5 REGULATORS AND STANDARDS (U.S.) · 5.4 MOBILE AND LEGGED ROBOTS

Mobile robots now have a full U.S. standard series.

ANSI/A3 R15.08 covers industrial mobile robots in three parts.

R15.08-1Requirements for the robot makerPublished 2020; reaffirmed for 2026
PartCoversStatus
R15.08-2Requirements for the integratorPublished 2023
R15.08-3Responsibilities of the userPublished 23 April 2026, announced September 2026

R15.08-3 completes the series and was written in step with R15.06 Part 3, which covers users of industrial robots.

5 REGULATORS AND STANDARDS (U.S.) · 5.4 MOBILE AND LEGGED ROBOTS

Legged robots are still waiting for a standard.

ISO 25785-1 is in committee draft and covers legged and dynamically stable industrial mobile robots.

  • General machinery and mobile robot standards
  • Maker safety guidance and site rules

What exists today

  • A single standard for balance, falls and stopping
  • Agreed test methods

What is missing

  • Use a documented risk assessment
  • Keep people clear of the machine's path
  • Track the draft and plan to meet it

What to do now

Insurers and site owners will ask how a legged robot is controlled while the standard is still in draft.

5 REGULATORS AND STANDARDS (U.S.) · 5.4 MOBILE AND LEGGED ROBOTS

Legged robots work in unstructured places.

Stairs, mud and clutter are why these machines are used, and why they are hard to standardize.

  • Inspection rounds and site capture
  • Places wheeled robots cannot reach

Where they work

Legged robots work in unstructured places.
  • Falls and balance loss near people
  • How the machine stops safely

Safety questions

A four-legged robot with a sensor payload walking on a paved path.

What you are seeing

Photo: Tore Danielsson (WMSE), CC BY-SA 4.0

Until the draft standard is final, a documented risk assessment is the best evidence for a legged robot.

SUB-CHAPTER 5.5

Drones and the FAA

Part 107, waivers and the pending Part 108.

Four paths let a drone fly commercially

132

Part 109 would unlock long-range drone flights

134

Commercial drones are regulated as aircraft

133

5 REGULATORS AND STANDARDS (U.S.) · 5.5 DRONES AND THE FAA

Four paths let a drone fly commercially.

The FAA sets different rules by aircraft weight, risk and distance.

Part 107Small drones flown by certified pilotsLine of sight, daylight rules and Remote ID apply
PathForNotes
Waivers under Part 107Operations outside the standard limitsApproved case by case
Section 44807 exemptionsLarger or special aircraftUsed for many delivery and agriculture operations
Part 135 air carrierCarrying packages for hireThe most demanding certification

Flying as a service moves this burden to an operator that already holds the approvals.

5 REGULATORS AND STANDARDS (U.S.) · 5.5 DRONES AND THE FAA

Commercial drones are regulated as aircraft.

Even a small drone needs a certified pilot, registration and Remote ID.

  • Inspection and mapping
  • Delivery and agriculture

Common uses

Commercial drones are regulated as aircraft.
  • Pilot certification and waivers
  • Insurance for hull, payload and liability

What enablers ask

A professional multirotor drone with cameras and a payload, on display.

What you are seeing

Photo: ZLEA, CC BY-SA 4.0

Drone operations are well defined for small aircraft. Larger and longer flights depend on Part 108.

5 REGULATORS AND STANDARDS (U.S.) · 5.5 DRONES AND THE FAA

Part 108 would unlock long-range drone flights.

The final rule has been at White House review since July 2026 and is not yet published.

Aug 2025

FAA proposes Part 108

10 Jul 2026

Final rule goes to White House review

End of 2026

FAA hopes to publish the final rule

After final rule

Operators apply under the new rules

Until Part 108 is final, long-range operations rely on waivers and exemptions.

SUB-CHAPTER 5.6

Cybersecurity and AI governance

NIST, federal policy and state laws.

Federal and state AI policy is moving quickly

136

Voluntary frameworks carry weight in practice

137

5 REGULATORS AND STANDARDS (U.S.) · 5.6 CYBERSECURITY AND AI GOVERNANCE

Federal and state AI policy is moving quickly.

The federal government and states have taken different approaches.

Dec 2025

Executive Order 14365 sets a national AI policy framework and creates a DOJ AI Litigation Task Force

1 Jan 2026

California SB 53 takes effect

Mar 2026

White House publishes an AI Policy Framework

24 Apr 2026

DOJ intervenes against the Colorado AI Act; enforcement is stayed on 27 April

14 May 2026

Colorado signs SB 26-189 to replace it

1 Jan 2027

Colorado SB 26-189 takes effect

Rules differ by state and are changing. Atomgigs designs governance that holds up under either approach.

5 REGULATORS AND STANDARDS (U.S.) · 5.6 CYBERSECURITY AND AI GOVERNANCE

Voluntary frameworks carry weight in practice.

Insurers, lenders and customers use NIST frameworks as benchmarks.

  • Guides the mapping, measuring and managing of AI risk
  • Gives a common language for governance

NIST AI Risk Management Framework

  • Organizes security into six functions
  • Used in contracts and insurance questions

NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0

  • Security for industrial automation
  • Used for machine and network design
IEC 62443

Documenting alignment with these frameworks answers many questions from underwriters and regulators.

SUB-CHAPTER 5.7

Sector rules: short notes

Healthcare, energy, roads and others.

Sector rules add to the general rules

139

5 REGULATORS AND STANDARDS (U.S.) · 5.7 SECTOR RULES: SHORT NOTES

Sector rules add to the general rules.

Short notes only. Each sector needs its own review.

SectorMain rule or bodyNote
HealthcareFDARobots used in diagnosis, treatment or surgery may be regulated as medical devices
Electric powerNERC CIPCybersecurity rules apply to the bulk electric system
Public roadsNHTSA and state lawRoad vehicles and some delivery robots
ConstructionOSHA construction standardsApply on active job sites
RadioFCC Part 15Applies to wireless equipment
Electrical systemsNFPA 70 and 79Cover wiring of equipment and machinery

Atomgigs flags sector rules in the first scoping step, so they do not surprise the pilot later.

SUB-CHAPTER 5.8

Testing and certification

Labs, listings and integrator programs.

Third-party testing proves a standard is met

141

Test labs measure robots on standard courses

142

5 REGULATORS AND STANDARDS (U.S.) · 5.8 TESTING AND CERTIFICATION

Third-party testing proves a standard is met.

Listings from recognized labs help with approvals, insurance and sales.

Scheme or lab

What it offers

Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories

OSHA-recognized labs such as UL, Intertek, TÜV SÜD America and CSA test and list products

UL 1740Robots and robotic equipment
UL 3300Service, communication, information, education and entertainment robots
UL 3100Automated mobile platforms
UL 4600Safety case approach for autonomous products
NIST and ASTMTest methods and standards work for robot performance

A listed product shortens site approval and gives the insurer a name it recognizes.

5 REGULATORS AND STANDARDS (U.S.) · 5.8 TESTING AND CERTIFICATION

Test labs measure robots on standard courses.

Standard test methods turn claims about a robot into numbers that buyers, insurers and regulators can compare.

Test labs measure robots on standard courses.
WHAT YOU ARE SEEING
  • A tracked response robot working through a NIST test apparatus: a ramp, a door handle, valves and reach targets.
  • Each task is repeated and timed, so different robots can be compared on the same course.
  • NIST and ASTM publish test methods of this kind for robot performance.

Photo: National Institute of Standards and Technology (public domain)

SUB-CHAPTER 5.9

Safety cases

How to prove a machine is safe in its setting.

A safety case argues that the machine is safe here

144

Evidence grows with every week of operation

145

5 REGULATORS AND STANDARDS (U.S.) · 5.9 SAFETY CASES

A safety case argues that the machine is safe here.

It links the machine, the task and the site to evidence.

  1. 11 Scope

    Describe the machine, the task and the site. OUTPUT System description

  2. 22 Hazards

    List what could go wrong. OUTPUT Hazard log

  3. 33 Controls

    Set guards, limits, procedures and training. OUTPUT Control list

  4. 44 Test

    Check controls in simulation and on site. OUTPUT Test records

  5. 55 Argue

    Show why the evidence supports the claim. OUTPUT Safety case

Atomgigs builds the safety case during the pilot. Regulators, insurers and site owners can all use it.

5 REGULATORS AND STANDARDS (U.S.) · 5.9 SAFETY CASES

Evidence grows with every week of operation.

A safety case is a living record, not a one-time document.

  • Risk assessment
  • Simulation results
  • Training plan

Before the pilot

  • Daily checks and logs
  • Near-miss reports
  • Corrective actions

During the pilot

  • Summary of hours and incidents
  • Updated risk assessment
  • Plan for production

After the pilot

Proof builds over time. A pilot that logs safe operation produces the evidence every enabler asks for.

SUB-CHAPTER 5.10

Outlook

What is coming in the next 24 months.

Rules to watch in the next 24 months

147

5 REGULATORS AND STANDARDS (U.S.) · 5.10 OUTLOOK

Rules to watch in the next 24 months.

Upcoming dates as announced; several depend on agency action.

End of 2026

FAA hopes to publish the final Part 108 rule for flights beyond visual line of sight

1 Jan 2027

Colorado SB 26-189 takes effect, replacing the Colorado AI Act

20 Jan 2027

EU Machinery Regulation applies to machines, including robots, sold into the EU

2026-27

ISO 25785-1 for legged industrial robots expected

Pilots started now can be built to meet rules that will be final by the time they reach production.

Chapter 6

Atomgigs with enablers and outlook

What Atomgigs offers each group, collaboration models, the engagement path, outlook, ten things to remember, go deeper.

SUB-CHAPTER 6.1

What Atomgigs offers each group

Four groups, four offers.

Each enabler group gets a different offer

150

6 ATOMGIGS WITH ENABLERS AND OUTLOOK · 6.1 WHAT ATOMGIGS OFFERS EACH GROUP

Each enabler group gets a different offer.

Atomgigs brings vetted deployments, field data and a safety-first operating model.

Financiers and lessorsClients that will use the machines, with proof they hold valueFunded pilots, utilization data and a structuring role that brings client and financier together
GroupWhat it wantsWhat Atomgigs brings
Insurers and brokersControlled risk and a record they can priceRisk assessments, supervision plans, incident logs and a mapped contract chain
Software and AI platformsReal sites, real operators and real dataVendor-neutral integration, pilot sites and feedback from the field
Regulators and standards bodiesEvidence of safe operation in practiceDocumented safety cases, test records and early use of new standards

Atomgigs works with the enablers rather than selling to them. The goal is more deployments that clear every gate.

SUB-CHAPTER 6.2

Collaboration models

Structures for working together.

Four ways to work together

152

6 ATOMGIGS WITH ENABLERS AND OUTLOOK · 6.2 COLLABORATION MODELS

Four ways to work together.

Each model is light to start and can grow with the relationship.

  1. 1Introduce and structure

    Atomgigs brings a financier and a client together Helps shape the structure and the evidence pack

  2. 2Pilot partner

    An enabler joins a pilot to see the machines at work Gets access to the site, the data and the team

  3. 3Evidence provider

    Atomgigs supplies logs, assessments and safety cases Fits underwriting, credit and approval reviews

  4. 4Advisory

    Joint review of a market, a product or a rule Short, scoped and time-boxed

No model requires an enabler to change its own process. Atomgigs adapts its evidence to what each one asks for.

SUB-CHAPTER 6.3

The engagement path

Consulting, pilot, production and how to start.

The path: consulting, pilot, production

154

How to start

155

6 ATOMGIGS WITH ENABLERS AND OUTLOOK · 6.3 THE ENGAGEMENT PATH

The path: consulting, pilot, production.

Each step produces evidence for the enablers who come next.

1 Consulting

Define the task, the site, the machines and the case.

OUTPUT

Scope and plan

2 Pilot

Run a small deployment with people in the lead.

OUTPUT

Operating record

3 Production

Scale the fleet with funding, cover and approvals in place.

OUTPUT

Managed operation

Atomgigs scales up the build and also operates. Contractors are hired per gig as the work grows.

6 ATOMGIGS WITH ENABLERS AND OUTLOOK · 6.3 THE ENGAGEMENT PATH

How to start.

Three steps from a first conversation to a funded pilot.

  • Tell us which part of the deal you serve
  • We map it to the gates a pilot must clear

1 Talk

  • Pick a task, a site and the evidence you need
  • Agree what a good result looks like

2 Scope

  • Run it with trained people in the lead
  • Receive the record your process asks for

3 Pilot

Contact: [email protected] or +1-310-694-4750.

SUB-CHAPTER 6.4

Outlook

Where enabler markets are heading.

Where enabler markets are heading

157

6 ATOMGIGS WITH ENABLERS AND OUTLOOK · 6.4 OUTLOOK

Where enabler markets are heading.

Four directions to watch.

  1. 1Financing

    More makers raise capital Robots-as-a-service is projected to grow about 17.5% a year Third-party fleet owners may grow

  2. 2Insurance

    From silent AI to named cover Specialist limits rise as data builds Expect closer questions on governance

  3. 3Software

    Open interfaces spread Foundation models reach more tasks Security and update control matter more

  4. 4Regulation

    Part 108 for drones R15.08-3 completes the mobile robot series ISO 25785-1 for legged robots to follow

Enablers that engage early with real deployments will set the terms the market adopts.

SUB-CHAPTER 6.5

Ten things to remember

The short version.

Ten things to remember

159

6 ATOMGIGS WITH ENABLERS AND OUTLOOK · 6.5 TEN THINGS TO REMEMBER

Ten things to remember.

The short version of the primer.

01

A deal clears six gates.

Need, machines, money, cover, clearance and operation.

02

Four enabler groups decide.

Financiers, insurers, platforms and regulators.

03

Makers write most service contracts.

Financiers fund the fleets behind them.

04

Tax rules can favor buying.

Section 179 and bonus depreciation matter in 2026.

05

Silent AI is the insurance gap.

Check exclusions and who bears software risk.

06

Specialist cover is arriving.

Limits up to $25M per insured, with governance asked for.

07

Software is a stack.

Seven layers, open interfaces and a separate safety layer.

08

Safety standards just moved.

R15.06-2025, R15.08-3 and the pending ISO 25785-1.

09

Drone rules are still pending.

Part 108 is at the White House.

10

Operating proof opens every door.

Pilots that log safe operation unlock money, cover and approvals.

SUB-CHAPTER 6.6

Go deeper

Other Atomgigs primers.

Go deeper in other primers

161

6 ATOMGIGS WITH ENABLERS AND OUTLOOK · 6.6 GO DEEPER

Go deeper in other primers.

Related Atomgigs primers, each at its own address on atomgigs.com.

Primer 01 Robotics

  • atomgigs.com/robots
  • Primer 02 OEMs, Drones and VTOL
  • atomgigs.com/oems
  • Primer 13 Physical AI Technology
  • atomgigs.com/technology

Machines

Primer 07 Data Centers

  • atomgigs.com/data-center
  • Primer 08 Manufacturing and Logistics
  • atomgigs.com/manufacturing
  • Primer 09 Construction and Infrastructure
  • atomgigs.com/construction
  • Primer 10 Public Safety and Defense
  • atomgigs.com/public-safety
  • Primer 11 Commercial Services
  • atomgigs.com/commercial
  • Primer 12 Physical AI Labs
  • atomgigs.com/labs

Buyers

Primer 00 Value Proposition

  • atomgigs.com
  • Primer 03 Talent
  • atomgigs.com/talent
  • Primer 04 Investors
  • atomgigs.com/investors
  • Primer 06 Channel Partners
  • atomgigs.com/channel-partners

Partners and people

Each primer shows the same gates from a different seat.

Appendix A

About us and notes

The primers, Atomgigs, Mavengigs, Monty Pandey, notes.

A APPENDIX: ABOUT US AND NOTES · A.1 THE PRIMERS

The primers, one address each

Every primer is readable on atomgigs.com or in presentation mode.

#PrimerAddressWhat it promises
00Value Propositionatomgigs.comWhy Atomgigs, and how it works.
01Roboticsatomgigs.com/robotsEvery robot type, for every application.
02OEMs, Drones and VTOLatomgigs.com/oemsEverything that helps people work in the physical world, other than robots.
03Talentatomgigs.com/talentThe experts who work alongside physical AI.
04Investorsatomgigs.com/investorsWhere physical AI capital is going, and how to find and track deals.
05Enablersatomgigs.com/enablersThe organizations that pay for, insure, run and approve machines at work.
06Channel Partnersatomgigs.com/channel-partnersWinning and delivering projects with physical AI.
07Data Centersatomgigs.com/data-centerHow data centers are built, run and paid for, and who buys them.
08Manufacturing and Logisticsatomgigs.com/manufacturingHow goods are made, stored and moved.
09Construction and Infrastructureatomgigs.com/constructionHow we build and run the physical world.
10Public Safety and Defenseatomgigs.com/public-safetyExtending public safety and defense teams with machines. No weapons.
11Commercial Servicesatomgigs.com/commercialWhere robots, drones and automation work in service businesses.
12Physical AI Labsatomgigs.com/labsPhysical AI data for training robots, only with customer approval.
13Physical AI Technologyatomgigs.com/technologyThe stack behind robots, from silicon to fleet.
A APPENDIX: ABOUT US AND NOTES · A.2 ATOMGIGS

Atomgigs: Physical AI Delivered as Jobs Done

Machines and people as one hybrid workforce, to scale up what you build and run. Primers hold the details.

What Atomgigs is

  • Robots, drones, VTOL, IoT and automation, with people, as one hybrid workforce.
  • Humans in the lead, physical AI in the loop.
  • Not a machine builder: it sources from makers, then staffs, integrates, deploys and operates.

The sources

  • Robots: every robot type, profiled in depth.
  • Everything other than robots: drones, VTOL, IoT and automation, from many makers.
  • The humans: role families across the trades, engineering and safety, every person a contractor.

Who we work with

  • Investors: consulting before and after the deal.
  • Enablers: financiers, insurers, platforms and regulators behind every deal.
  • Channel partners: engineering, design, MEP and construction firms.

Buyer groups

  • Data centers
  • Manufacturing and logistics
  • Construction and infrastructure
  • Public safety and defense (no weapons)
  • Commercial services
  • Physical AI labs

How it works

  • Consulting engagement, then a short pilot, then production.
  • One scope, one site, one metric in the pilot.
  • A small senior pod runs every site, with a named human manager for every robot.

How we are paid

  • Pilot, managed crew, outcome-based or advisory.
  • No capital outlay for machines and no long-term headcount.
  • Pay for capacity and outcomes; scale up as results are proven.

Atomgigs is a Mavengigs venture. Atomgigs is a division of Panvisage Inc.

A APPENDIX: ABOUT US AND NOTES · A.3 MAVENGIGS

Mavengigs: the Scale Up Guys

Consulting, Capital and Ventures.

$20B+M&A deal value
30+Years consulting
50+Companies scaled
$100M+Business impact

Mavengigs Consulting

  • Strategic M&A, transformation and optimization
  • Focused on the part of M&A that begins after everyone shakes hands
  • Built for PE-backed and Fortune 500 teams

Mavengigs Capital

  • An independent sponsor platform
  • Family office strategy and management

Mavengigs Ventures

  • Funding and mentorship for founders we back
  • Panmedical: digital health in India, run as CEO
  • Atomgigs, Mavens Life and Mavens Health

Mavengigs is a division of Panvisage Inc.

A APPENDIX: ABOUT US AND NOTES · A.4 MONTY PANDEY

Monty Pandey: Founder and CEO

Founder, CEO and driving force behind Atomgigs

Monty Pandey: Founder and CEO

Career and experience

  • 30+ years of management consulting: managed major M&A deals totaling $20 billion; scaled 50+ companies for $100 million of impact
  • Deep expertise in M&A consulting, including integrations and divestitures
  • 2018 to present: Mavengigs: Consulting, Capital and Ventures
  • 2004 to present: Founded Panvisage, CEO for 22 years
  • 2024 to present: Panmedical CEO (digital health)
  • 1998 to 2004: Oracle, led 14 enterprise programs
  • 1994 to 1996: Rolled out nationwide cell networks
  • 1992 to 1994: Car and truck design (CAD, CAM, CIM)
  • 1991: B.E. Electrical and Electronics Engineering
  • 1989 to 1991: Designed robots, AGVs and manufacturing transfer lines
  • Data centers: built one from scratch in 2000; data center migration in 2008; Equinix in 2020
  • E&C companies: WSP, Jacobs, Worley, Halliburton, Fluor, Brown & Root
  • Managed the buildout of a manufacturing plant and a distribution center

Monty Pandey

  • Founder and CEO, Atomgigs
  • Founder and CEO, Mavengigs
  • Co-founder and CEO, Panmedical
Selected transactionsValueRole
GE Appliances / Haier$5.6BReadied for sale
Jacobs / CH2M / Worley$3.3BIntegration, Divestiture
ITW Signode / Carlyle$3.2BCarve-out, then sale
AMLI / Morgan Stanley$2.1BTake-private
Fortune Brands / ACCO / GBC$2BDivestiture, Integration
Equinix / Packet$335MIntegration
A APPENDIX: ABOUT US AND NOTES · A.5 NOTES

Notes on use

Three things to keep in mind when reading this deck.

Not investment advice

Atomgigs provides consulting. We are not an investment advisor, so you make your own decisions on investments.

Products belong to their owners

Company, product and robot names, logos and photos are used as examples and belong to their owners. This deck is for information only and is not a contract or an offer.

About the numbers

Numbers come from publicly available sources and are the latest available at publication. Costs, prices and returns are typical ballpark values, not quotes; they will be updated for your specific engagement.

Appendix B

Visual guide and reference

Machines in the field, glossary, quick reference, organizations.

B VISUAL GUIDE AND REFERENCE · B.1 MACHINES IN THE FIELD

Machines in the field.

Three machine types that enablers finance, insure, run and approve.

What you are seeingA legged Spot robot on a construction site with rebar. Used for inspection and progress capture.Image: Trimble
What you are seeingA legged Spot robot on a construction site with rebar. Used for inspection and progress capture.Image: Trimble
What you are seeingAn ANYmal inspection robot beside electrical switchgear, with workers nearby.Image: ANYbotics
What you are seeingAn ANYmal inspection robot beside electrical switchgear, with workers nearby.Image: ANYbotics
What you are seeingAn autonomous excavator or pile driver of the kind built by Built Robotics.Image: Built Robotics
What you are seeingAn autonomous excavator or pile driver of the kind built by Built Robotics.Image: Built Robotics

Products and photographs belong to their owners and are shown for illustration only.

B VISUAL GUIDE AND REFERENCE · B.1 MACHINES IN THE FIELD

More machines in the field.

Three machine types that enablers finance, insure, run and approve.

What you are seeingA humanoid robot handling boxes in a warehouse.Image: Apptronik
What you are seeingA humanoid robot handling boxes in a warehouse.Image: Apptronik
What you are seeingA professional multirotor drone with a camera payload.Photo: ZLEA, CC BY-SA 4.0
What you are seeingA professional multirotor drone with a camera payload.Photo: ZLEA, CC BY-SA 4.0
What you are seeingA layout robot marking a concrete floor on a building site.Image: Dusty Robotics
What you are seeingA layout robot marking a concrete floor on a building site.Image: Dusty Robotics

Products and photographs belong to their owners and are shown for illustration only.

SUB-CHAPTER B.2

Glossary

Twenty-four terms in plain English.

Glossary: money

172

Glossary: technology and rules

174

Glossary: insurance

173

B VISUAL GUIDE AND REFERENCE · B.2 GLOSSARY

Glossary: money.

Plain-English definitions.

TermMeaning
CapexCapital expenditure: money spent to buy a machine that lasts several years.
Robots as a serviceA monthly fee that covers the machine, software and support.
LessorThe company that owns a leased machine and rents it to the client.
Residual valueWhat a machine is expected to be worth at the end of a lease.
UtilizationThe share of time a machine is working, or the hours it works.
Fair market value leaseA lease where the client can buy the machine at the end for its then-current value.
Venture debtLoan to a venture-backed company, often with warrants.
OpexOperating expense: a running cost, such as a service fee.
B VISUAL GUIDE AND REFERENCE · B.2 GLOSSARY

Glossary: insurance.

Plain-English definitions.

TermMeaning
Silent AIRisk from AI that an insurance policy neither covers nor excludes by name.
Affirmative coverInsurance that names AI risk as covered.
General liabilityCover for injury or damage to third parties.
Product liabilityCover for harm caused by a defective product.
UnderwriterThe insurer's specialist who decides whether to cover a risk and at what price.
BrokerAn intermediary who places cover and advises the client.
AccumulationMany losses arriving together from one cause, such as a software update.
Hull coverInsurance for damage to the aircraft or machine itself.
B VISUAL GUIDE AND REFERENCE · B.2 GLOSSARY

Glossary: technology and rules.

Plain-English definitions.

TermMeaning
Fleet managementSoftware that assigns, tracks and updates many machines.
Digital twinA live virtual copy of a site or system, used for testing.
ROS 2Open-source middleware for robot software.
VDA 5050A standard interface between a master controller and mobile robots.
BVLOSBeyond visual line of sight: a drone flight the pilot cannot see directly.
Remote IDA broadcast of a drone's identity and location, required by the FAA.
NRTLNationally Recognized Testing Laboratory: an OSHA-recognized product tester.
Safety caseA structured argument, backed by evidence, that a system is safe in its setting.
SUB-CHAPTER B.3

Quick reference

Key numbers and rules of thumb.

Key numbers

176

Key rules and standards

177

B VISUAL GUIDE AND REFERENCE · B.3 QUICK REFERENCE

Key numbers.

Figures used in this primer.

NumberWhat it measures
5.08MIndustrial robots in operation worldwide, 2025
603,000Industrial robots installed worldwide in 2025, up 11%
36,766Robots ordered in North America in 2025, worth $2.25B
$1.3TU.S. equipment finance market
$14.3BRecord monthly new business volume in U.S. equipment finance, July 2026
$2.56MSection 179 expensing limit for 2026
2,369Generative AI exclusion filings across 49 states by mid-2026
$25MTop limit per insured on a standalone AI liability policy
B VISUAL GUIDE AND REFERENCE · B.3 QUICK REFERENCE

Key rules and standards.

Where to look first.

Rule or standardWhat it covers
ANSI/A3 R15.06-2025Industrial robot safety, with cybersecurity
ANSI/A3 R15.08 seriesIndustrial mobile robots
ISO 25785-1Legged industrial robots, in draft
FAA Part 107Commercial flights by small drones
FAA Part 108Flights beyond visual line of sight; final rule at White House review since July 2026
VDA 5050Mobile robot interface standard
IEC 62443Industrial automation security
NIST AI Risk Management FrameworkVoluntary AI risk guidance
SUB-CHAPTER B.4

Organizations

Associations, regulators and standards bodies.

Organizations

179

B VISUAL GUIDE AND REFERENCE · B.4 ORGANIZATIONS

Organizations.

Bodies named in this primer.

OrganizationRole
A3 (Association for Advancing Automation)Robot standards and trade events in North America
ANSI and ISONational and international standards bodies
OSHAU.S. workplace safety regulator
FAAU.S. aviation regulator
NISTU.S. standards and measurement agency
UL, Intertek, TÜV SÜD America, CSATesting and certification laboratories

VDA and VDMA

German automotive and machinery associations behind VDA 5050 and OPC UA robotics work

Verisk (ISO unit)

Publisher of insurance forms, including AI exclusion forms

Start a pilot

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