Renu Robotics, a San Antonio-based autonomous robotics company, will showcase its industrial autonomous mowing platform at eMERGE Americas in Miami this May as a featured company with SBIR Advisors at Booth 557. Founded in 2018 by Tim Matus, the company developed an autonomous vegetation management solution originally designed for utility-scale solar farms, where extreme heat, safety hazards and labor shortages make traditional mowing impractical.
The company's robot, now in its third generation with a fourth on the way, stands 28 inches tall, spans a 64-inch cutting deck across a 10-foot platform and operates at three to five miles per hour using LIDAR, cameras and AI-powered Human-Animal-Vehicle (HAV) detection for safe autonomous operation. What began as a commercial solution for solar energy sites has grown into a dual-use platform serving both civilian and military applications.
Through its partnership with SBIR Advisors, Renu Robotics has secured multiple Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 SBIR awards, funding critical technology advances. These include LTE GPS RTK corrections that eliminate the need for complex on-site signal infrastructure, and tower communication systems that enable the robot to operate near active military runways. 'When we can find help in grant funding to build the technology and then use it in other markets, it really is helpful,' said Matus. 'The key is how you communicate with people in the military to understand the need for the use case on the commercial side as well.'
Attendees can see the Renu Robotics unit in action during eMERGE Americas Demo Day and throughout the conference at the Garage, a new hands-on exhibition space on the conference floor. Matus and members of the Renu Robotics engineering team will be available for conversations and live demonstrations. 'There's no better feel for a product and what it can do than when you see it on the ground and moving around,' said Matus. 'Your mind will start flowing into what this can do differently and how we take people out of the process and put machines in place to solve real issues.'
The demonstration underscores the growing importance of autonomous systems in addressing labor shortages and safety concerns across industries. By bridging commercial and defense markets, Renu Robotics exemplifies how SBIR funding can accelerate technology development and create solutions with broad impact. The company's technology integrates LIDAR, computer vision and AI-based safety systems to deliver unmanned mowing operations in hazardous and hard-to-staff environments, making it a compelling case study for dual-use innovation.
As eMERGE Americas brings together technology leaders and investors, Renu Robotics' presence highlights the potential of autonomous robotics to transform industries ranging from renewable energy to national defense. The live demonstrations will offer attendees a firsthand look at how the platform navigates complex environments, avoids obstacles and operates without human intervention, providing a glimpse into the future of vegetation management.
