Roadbotics
Pittsburgh CMU spinout (2016) using AI computer vision to assess road pavement condition for 250+ governments; acquired by Michelin in July 2022.
RoadBotics was founded in December 2016 as a spinout from Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute and School of Computer Science, co-founded by Christoph Mertz, Benjamin Schmidt, Courtney Ehrlichman, and Mark DeSantis. Headquartered in Pittsburgh's East Liberty neighborhood, the company developed AI-powered technology to assess and map the condition of road infrastructure using standard smartphones as image-capture devices.
RoadBotics' core platform, RoadWay, used deep learning computer vision to process imagery captured via smartphones mounted on vehicle windshields. The system converted visual road data into objective, GIS-mapped condition assessments, replacing the traditionally slow, expensive, and subjective manual inspection process. The platform delivered actionable asset management insights to help road managers prioritize repairs and maintenance budgets.
By the time of its acquisition, RoadBotics had deployed RoadWay with more than 250 governments across 34 US states and 34 countries worldwide. The company raised over $11 million in funding, including a $3.9 million seed round and a $7.5 million Series A.
On July 11, 2022, Michelin acquired RoadBotics, integrating it into Michelin's Mobility Intelligence Business arm as part of the company's Michelin DDi (Driving Data to Intelligence) initiative for preventative road safety. The acquisition combined Michelin's knowledge of tire and vehicle behavior with RoadBotics' computer vision expertise. Following the acquisition, approximately 26 employees joined Michelin's Mobility Intelligence division, with Benjamin Schmidt named CTO of the combined effort. The service expanded in North America before moving to Europe. As of 2025-2026, RoadBotics by Michelin remains headquartered in Pittsburgh with 51-200 employees.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
RoadWay Platform
AI platform converting smartphone road imagery into GIS-mapped pavement condition assessments for government road managers worldwide.
Contact Roadbotics
WEBSITE
https://www.roadbotics.comHEADQUARTERS
United States
Company Facts
Founded
2016
Primary Role
Software/Algorithm
Company Size
-
Primary Region
North America
Annual Sales
-
Funding Stage
-
Funding Total
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