Roboxi Raises $14M to Automate Airport Airside Ops

Jan de Vries · 2026-05-22

A Norwegian startup just pulled in a big chunk of change to make airports safer and more efficient. Roboxi, based in Stavanger, Norway, has closed a share issue that raised about $14 million (converted from EUR 13 million at current rates). The money comes from investors in the Rogaland region, and it's meant to fuel growth, fund new projects, and shore up the company's finances. ### What Roboxi Actually Does Roboxi builds autonomous robots that handle the dirty, dangerous, and repetitive work on airport runways, taxiways, and aprons. Think of them as a super-efficient ground crew that never sleeps. Their main gig is detecting and removing Foreign Object Debris (FOD) — things like loose bolts, tire fragments, or even wildlife that can cause serious damage to planes. - **Runway inspections:** Robots scan the surface constantly, using cameras and 3D laser tech to find cracks, potholes, or debris. - **Light monitoring:** They check every runway light for defects and even measure brightness, so maintenance teams know exactly what needs fixing. - **Bird deterrence:** Autonomous systems scare off birds without harming them, reducing the risk of bird strikes. All this happens in real-time, with data flowing into the airport's existing systems through API platforms. It's like having a tireless safety inspector on duty 24/7. ### Why This Matters for Airports Airports are under pressure to cut costs while keeping safety standards high. Roboxi's tech helps them do both. By automating inspections, they reduce the need for manual checks that take planes out of service. And catching debris early prevents costly damage to aircraft. > "The successful completion of this share issue marks an important milestone for the company," said Magnus O. Finnesand, CEO of Roboxi. "The capital raised will enable us to scale operations, deliver on already committed and expected contracts, strengthen our market position, and continue investing in innovation." ### Milestones Already Achieved Since founding in 2018, Roboxi has racked up some impressive firsts. They built the world's first AI-driven FOD detection and collection system that works automatically on runways. They also created a light inspection system that can spot defects and measure photometric performance. And they've got a surface inspection rig using high-speed 3D lasers. Their bird detection and deterrence system is another standout. It scans for birds and uses non-lethal methods to keep them away, running simultaneously with other monitoring functions. ### Real Customers, Real Results Roboxi isn't just a lab experiment. They've deployed systems at major airports worldwide, including Schiphol in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Firenze, Dallas Fort Worth, and Stavanger. Each installation verifies their tech in real-world conditions. Knut Molaug, Chairperson of the Board and a key investor, said, "The strong support from both new and existing investors validates Roboxi's vision, technology, and the strong momentum we are experiencing in the market. With this capital, we are positioned to scale operations and continue delivering substantial value to our customers." ### What's Next With $14 million in the bank, Roboxi plans to ramp up production, expand to more airports, and keep innovating. The goal is to make automated airside operations the standard, not the exception. If they succeed, we'll all benefit from safer, more efficient flights. For more on how automation is reshaping aviation, check out our other posts on airport tech trends.