BlueBotics SA
"Your Vehicle Navigation Partner"
Swiss EPFL spinoff providing ANT natural feature navigation technology for AGVs, AMRs and automated forklifts; acquired by ZAPI Group in 2022.
BlueBotics SA is a Swiss company founded in 2001 as a spin-off of the Autonomous Systems Lab at EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne) in Lausanne. The company develops and licenses ANT (Autonomous Navigation Technology), a natural feature navigation system that enables automated guided vehicles (AGVs), autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), and automated forklifts to navigate without the need for reflectors, magnets, or other dedicated infrastructure markers.
The ANT navigation system uses a vehicle's existing laser safety scanners to identify and match permanent environmental features such as walls, pillars, and machines, achieving positioning accuracy of approximately 1 cm and 1 degree. The technology powers over 150 distinct vehicle models from multiple manufacturers, with more than 6,000 ANT-driven vehicles in active operation globally.
BlueBotics' main product lines include ANT lite+, a compact embedded navigation module for AGV and AMR integration; ANT server, a fleet management and mission control software platform compatible with VDA 5050 standard vehicles; and ANT locator, an asset tracking and transport flow optimization solution launched in early 2025. ANT server supports multi-floor operations, REST API integration with warehouse management systems (WMS), manufacturing execution systems (MES), and ERP platforms.
The company is headquartered at Rue du Jordils 41B, St-Sulpice (Canton de Vaud), Switzerland, and employs approximately 55 people as of 2026. CEO Nicola Tomatis has led the company since 2003; he holds an M.Sc. in Computer Science from ETH Zurich and a PhD in Robotics from EPFL.
In February 2022, BlueBotics was acquired by ZAPI Group, a global industrial conglomerate specializing in power electronics and vehicle control systems. The acquisition expanded BlueBotics' reach in industrial vehicle automation while maintaining operational independence under the ZAPI umbrella.
BlueBotics serves customers in warehousing, manufacturing, logistics, and disinfection applications. The company participates in major industry trade shows including MODEX and ProMat and is a member of the Material Handling Industry (MHI) association. Contact: [email protected], +41 21 694 02 90.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
ANT lite+
Compact natural feature navigation module for AGVs and AMRs; 1 cm/1° positioning accuracy using existing laser scanners.
ANT server
Fleet management and mission control software for AGV/AMR fleets; VDA 5050 compatible with REST API integration.
ANT locator
- Model: ANT locator
- Launch Year: 2025
Asset tracing and transport flow optimization solution for forklift and vehicle tracking in facilities.
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Contact BlueBotics SA
WEBSITE
https://www.bluebotics.comPHONE
+41 21 694 02 90HEADQUARTERS
Switzerland
Company Facts
Founded
2001
Primary Role
Software/Algorithm
Company Size
-
Primary Region
Europe
Annual Sales
-
Funding Stage
-
Funding Total
-
