Key Moments
Jake Loosararian, Gecko Robotics | All-In Summit 2024
All-In PodcastKey Moments
Gecko Robotics uses AI and wall-climbing robots to inspect and maintain critical infrastructure, saving billions.
Key Insights
Gecko Robotics addresses the massive $4.59 trillion domestic problem of aging infrastructure with robotic solutions.
The company's robots use advanced sensors (ultrasonic, laser, thermal) to collect vast amounts of data on infrastructure health.
Gecko's AI platform, Canal, analyzes this data to predict failures, extend asset lifespan, and optimize operations.
The sales cycle has evolved from plant managers to CTOs and CFOs, focusing on financial benefits like depreciation extension and efficiency gains.
Gecko's technology offers significant value in defense, maritime, energy, and manufacturing sectors, improving readiness and reducing emissions.
Robots in industrial settings, especially for data collection, are seen as critical applications, potentially integrating with future humanoid robots.
THE CRITICAL NEED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE
The world's essential infrastructure, from bridges and power plants to pipelines and military assets, is aging rapidly and failing at an increasing rate. This presents a monumental $4.59 trillion domestic problem, impacting not only economic stability but also national security. Traditional inspection methods, often relying on human "Joes on ropes" with basic sensors, are time-consuming, dangerous, and insufficient for capturing the complex data needed to prevent catastrophic failures. The sheer scale of maintenance needs, with the military alone spending $400 billion annually on upkeep, highlights the inadequacy of current approaches.
THE ORIGINS AND EVOLUTION OF GECKO ROBOTICS
Gecko Robotics was born from a personal encounter with catastrophic infrastructure failure. Witnessing the human cost and financial impact of a boiler explosion, founder Jake Loosararian became obsessed with finding a technological solution. Starting in a college dorm, the company's initial focus was on building wall-climbing robots equipped with ultrasonic sensors to inspect dangerous environments like power plant boilers. This early success, saving a plant $30 million in one year, validated the core concept and fueled the company's growth from a bootstrapped startup to a leader in industrial robotics and software.
ADVANCED ROBOTIC INSPECTION AND DATA COLLECTION
Gecko Robotics deploys a diverse fleet of robots, including drones, terrestrial robots (like the dog-like ANYbotics), and submersible units, to gather comprehensive data on infrastructure health. These robots are equipped with sophisticated sensors such as cameras for photogrammetry, ultrasonic sensors for internal defect detection, lasers for precise measurements, and thermal imaging for operational monitoring. They can traverse various surfaces and geometries in hazardous conditions, collecting terabytes of data autonomously in a fraction of the time traditional methods require, often without shutting down operations.
THE CANALEVER AI PLATFORM AS A CENTRALIZED SOLUTION
The collected data is processed and analyzed through CanLever, Gecko's AI and robotics-powered operating platform. By prioritizing data acquisition and then building software upon it, CanLever offers a significant advantage. It creates a digital representation of assets, integrates various data layers, and provides actionable insights. This platform allows for predictive modeling, extending the useful life of infrastructure by accurately identifying maintenance needs years in advance, thus avoiding costly replacements and unplanned downtime, ultimately impacting companies' P&Ls and margins.
BROAD APPLICATIONS ACROSS CRITICAL SECTORS
Gecko's technology has broad applicability, serving major clients in oil and gas, manufacturing, defense, and maritime industries. In the defense sector, it's used for modernizing missile silos and improving naval readiness by reducing maintenance turnaround times. For maritime applications, it extends to ballast tanks and hulls. The energy and manufacturing sectors benefit from emissions reduction through preventing pipeline leaks and optimizing operational throughput. Furthermore, Gecko is contributing to new builds, like advanced submarines, by ensuring digital threads and efficient manufacturing processes.
THE FUTURE OF ROBOTICS AND DATA IN INDUSTRY
Jake Loosararian believes that the future of AI and robotics in industry lies in solving complex, real-world problems, not just performing simple tasks like backflips. He sees potential for generalized humanoid robots, like Optimus, to integrate with Gecko's data infrastructure, enabling them to perform critical tasks in dangerous industrial environments. The company's API platform allows other robotic companies to leverage their data expertise. Gecko's foundational strategy, built on first-order data collection and analysis, positions them to dominate the evolving software landscape, moving from reactive to proactive infrastructure management.
SALES CYCLE AND CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT
The sales cycle at Gecko Robotics has evolved significantly. Initially, sales were driven by convincing plant managers to allow on-site inspections. Now, the company engages with CTOs and CFOs, as the products have strong financial implications, particularly concerning depreciation models and operational efficiencies. Customers primarily purchase CanLever as a software license, which includes the implementation of robotic data collection. Gecko aims to make data refreshes, where robots collect updated information, free, reinforcing the value proposition of continuous monitoring and analysis.
ADDRESSING PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE SAFETY CONCERNS
Beyond financial benefits, Gecko's technology directly addresses public safety by identifying critical issues in bridges and tunnels that might otherwise go unnoticed until a disaster strikes. The robots can detect concrete decay, structural anomalies, and other forms of degradation. By integrating architectural data and performing diffs, Gecko can identify deviations from design specifications. The company is actively working on projects, such as modernizing bridge maintenance in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, to improve prioritization of capital deployment and ensure public safety through better infrastructure oversight.
Mentioned in This Episode
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Infrastructure Maintenance and Failure Costs
Data extracted from this episode
| Category | Cost/Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic infrastructure need (to reach 'B' grade) | $4.59 trillion | Overall estimate for adequate maintenance. |
| Military maintenance budget | 40% of budget ($400 billion) | Not for new builds, just keeping old things working. |
| Fortune 500 annual loss from failures | $1.5 trillion | Due to unpredictable catastrophic failures. |
| Power plant boiler shutdown cost | $2 million per day | Due to pressure tube explosions. |
| Cost to replace a sulfuric acid tank | $8 million | Gecko's services can extend life instead. |
| Customer value from reduced risks/spending | $15 million | For 50 assets, including safety and environmental benefits. |
| Potential ROI per tank for 12th largest oil/gas company | $122,000 | On 100,000 tanks. |
| US emissions reduction by 2030 (if pipeline/oil leaks stopped) | 18% | Potential environmental impact. |
| Navy ship availability | 1/3rd | Due to maintenance cycles. |
| Navy flight deck turnaround time improvement | 1 month | Achieved by Gecko's technology. |
| Labor reduction for Navy flight decks | 85% | Achieved by Gecko's technology. |
Common Questions
Gecko Robotics addresses the critical issue of aging infrastructure by using wall-climbing robots and AI-powered software to inspect, maintain, and protect essential structures like bridges, pipelines, and power plants, preventing catastrophic failures and extending their lifespan.
Topics
Mentioned in this video
A company that builds wall-climbing robots and enterprise software to maintain and protect essential infrastructure, founded by Jake Loosararian.
An organization where Jake Loosararian received advice and support for Gecko Robotics, encouraging him to stay focused on building the vision.
A partner company with an explosion-proof robot that can gather information in dangerous environments like oil and gas or nuclear facilities.
Mentioned as the site of a large fire.
A major client in the energy manufacturing sector for Gecko Robotics.
CEO and co-founder of Gecko Robotics, who started the company from his college dorm.
Mentioned in the context of his vision for the widespread use of humanoid robots, which Jake Loosararian believes will primarily be in industrial settings.
An attendee at the conference who interacted with a robotic dog.
Gecko Robotics' AI and Robotics powered operating platform, launched after 10 years of data collection, used to leverage data layers for customers.
Humanoid robots that Jake Loosararian is excited to buy, expecting them to be used in dangerous industrial settings rather than everyday society.
Home country of Anybotics, a company with an incredible robot that partners with Gecko Robotics.
County in Pennsylvania where Governor Shapiro signed a contract with Gecko Robotics for bridge maintenance.
Mentioned as being able to outbuild the US in submarines and new chips due to faster manufacturing processes.
Working with Gecko Robotics on a $130 billion modernization program for over 400 nuclear missile silos.
Working with Gecko Robotics to improve maintenance cycles for ships, reducing labor by 85% and turnaround times for flight decks.
A major client in the energy manufacturing sector for Gecko Robotics.
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