ULS Robotics
Category: Robotics / Embodied AI
Shanghai-based maker of industrial and consumer exoskeleton robots that use AI gait recognition for powered walking, lifting and upper-limb assistance. ULS Robotics was founded in 2018. The company is led by Xu Zhenhua (Eric Xu). Based in Shanghai, China. Total funding raised: $14.0M. Latest round: Series B. Key investors include Future Capital (明势资本), K2VC (险峰长青), Unity Ventures (九合创投), Innoangel (英诺天使), Guoyi Capital (国仪资本), Dunhong Asset (敦鸿资产), Binfu Capital (彬复资本).
- Founded
- 2018
- Headquarters
- Shanghai, China
- Total funding
- $14.0M
Value proposition
Wearable exoskeletons that reduce fatigue and occupational injury for industrial workers and add walking power for consumers. The company builds its own motor and drive systems, and its adaptive AI control times assistance to the wearer's gait.
Products and solutions
VIATRIX X and VIATRIX consumer lower-limb hiking exoskeletons, FIT-HV Pro motorized lumbar exoskeleton, FIT-U Pro powered upper-limb exoskeleton, FIT-GS Pro lower-limb exoskeleton, FIT-GS Ultra full-body exoskeleton, PES-U and PES-B passive energy-storage upper-limb and lumbar exoskeletons, TR1 humanoid-composite exoskeleton, MARIS teleoperation, custom exoskeleton R&D projects.
Unique value
Brings automotive-grade engineering to wearables. Its in-house flat-wire motor reaches a 97% slot fill factor and is 20-30% more efficient. The automotive-grade gait-recognition chip with adaptive AI responds in 0.5-1.0 ms, and battery-aware energy management scales the assistance ceiling to remaining charge.
Target customer
Industrial enterprises in automotive manufacturing, airport ground handling, logistics, power line inspection, mining, firefighting and research institutes, plus consumer hikers and outdoor users (Viatrix line).
Industries served
Automotive manufacturing, airport ground services, 3C electronics, factory logistics, power and mining, emergency rescue and firefighting, scenic areas and tourism, consumer outdoor recreation
Technology advantage
About eight years of industrial exoskeleton deployment before entering the consumer market, with a full-stack product line covering upper-limb, lumbar, lower-limb and full-body devices. Self-developed drive system and floating hip joint architecture. ISO9001 and EU CE certified. Twice certified as a National High-Tech Enterprise. Revenue exceeded RMB 100M in 2025.
How they differentiate
ULS competes on system-level integration rather than single specifications: power, weight, heat, battery life and response time are balanced together. It holds automotive-derived motor IP and has a deep base of industrial customers, while consumer-first rivals such as Hypershell and Dnsys entered the market earlier.
Main competitors
Hypershell, Dnsys, Kenqing Technology (VIGX)
Key partnerships
Haglöfs (consumer hiking retail trials for Viatrix X), The Wandering Earth 2 film (product placement/sponsor), 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games and Asian Para Games logistics support, China Southern Airlines ground-service testing at Beijing Daxing Airport, named on the MIIT / National Mine Safety Administration list of outstanding mining robot application scenarios
Notable customers
Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games logistics, China Southern Airlines ground services (Beijing Daxing trial), customers in automotive manufacturing, power line inspection, forest firefighting, border patrol and mining
Major milestones
2018-04 founded in Shanghai, 2019 Angel round, 2020-11 Pre-A round, 2020 HEMS and MAPS series launched, 2023 exoskeletons featured in The Wandering Earth 2, 2023 Asian Games logistics support, 2024-07 A+ round and humanoid-composite exoskeleton launched, 2025-05 Series B, 2025-08 first consumer exoskeleton launched, CES 2026 Innovation Award for VIATRIX, 2026 Viatrix X launched with Haglöfs retail trials.
Growth metrics
2025 revenue exceeded RMB 100M (~$14.9M); cumulative funding is a nine-figure RMB sum; headcount under 100 per the company's site.
Market positioning
One of China's leading exoskeleton companies, moving from B2B industrial exoskeletons into consumer outdoor and hiking exoskeletons. Viatrix won a CES 2026 Innovation Award.
Geographic focus
China primary; expanding to the US and Europe via CES and outdoor retail partners
Patents and IP
Company cites multiple invention patents (specific patents not enumerated publicly).
About Xu Zhenhua (Eric Xu)
Ex-FANUC Robotics Senior R&D Engineer; Ex-Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (SAIC-GM) Senior R&D Engineer; Co-founder & CTO of Jinghe Robotics and Fourier Intelligence; Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Mechanical Engineering & Automation. Named 'Shanghai Craftsman' in 2024.
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Official website: https://www.ulsrobotics.com