Autonomous Solutions, Inc. (ASI) has formed a joint venture with SoftBank Group Corp. to develop autonomous construction equipment for large infrastructure projects, following a $225 million investment from the Tokyo-based firm to expand ASI's commercial operations. The Mendon, Utah, company announced the deal on Sept. 24, 2026, aiming to accelerate the commercialization of autonomous solutions for civil construction and material handling.
Capitalizing New Joint Venture
The investment from SoftBank Group provides significant capital for ASI to grow its commercial footprint across the broader construction market. While the $225 million figure specifically applies to the direct investment in ASI, the company noted that SoftBank has also capitalized a newly formed joint venture to provide meaningful scale for various construction use cases. According to ASI, the amount of capital injected into the joint venture remains undisclosed.
Orchestrating Mixed Fleets
The partnership focuses on developing OEM-agnostic solutions, meaning the technology is designed to work with existing equipment from multiple manufacturers. ASI's proprietary Mobius® platform is intended to orchestrate mixed fleets of heavy machinery, including haul trucks, dozers, loaders, and compactors, allowing them to operate autonomously together.
ASI CEO Mel Torrie stated that the venture positions the company at the forefront of autonomous construction innovation. He noted the technology is engineered for longevity and is open to every major equipment brand on a jobsite. Torrie emphasized that the goal is to support large-scale infrastructure projects, such as roadways, airports, and railways, by allowing customers to deploy mixed fleets for complex tasks ranging from earthmoving to vertical construction.
Utah Technology Roots
The Mendon-based company has a long history in the Utah technology sector, having been founded in 2000 by a group of engineers who commercialized technologies developed at Utah State University in Logan. ASI has since grown into one of the largest privately held robotics companies in the region.
ASI operates from a 200-plus-acre proving ground in northern Utah, with additional offices located in Salt Lake City, Utah, Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, and Longmont, Colorado. The company has achieved significant scale by adapting its industrial autonomy expertise across various sectors, including agriculture, logistics, and landscaping.
Strategic Company Evolution
The recent funding follows a period of strategic repositioning for ASI. In May 2025, ASI announced the launch of its Heavy Construction business with SoftBank, a move intended to address the gap between increasing infrastructure demands and a dwindling supply of skilled heavy-equipment operators.
Prior to this, ASI underwent significant organizational shifts, including the 2018 investment by Sweden-based Epiroc AB and the subsequent 2024 acquisition of the remaining 66% of ASI Mining by Epiroc. Additionally, in March 2026, ASI expanded its technological capabilities by acquiring Scythe Robotics, a Colorado-based developer of autonomous mowers.
Physical AI and Industrial Impact
The partnership with SoftBank aligns ASI with the investment firm's broader strategic focus on "Physical AI." This initiative, led by SoftBank Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son, is estimated to be worth approximately $76 billion.
ASI's technology is designed to transform what the company describes as "dirty, dull, and dangerous" operations into efficient, scalable, and productive processes. By providing a software orchestration layer, ASI aims to help global Fortune 500 companies manage complex, real-world fleet environments across existing infrastructure.
Future Outlook
With the new capital, ASI intends to meet the growing market demand for next-generation autonomous solutions in civil construction and material handling. The company's focus remains on providing scalable, reliable robotics that can integrate into the diverse, mixed-brand environments common on modern large-scale infrastructure job sites.
Global Scaling Efforts
The joint venture and the direct $225 million investment represent a major milestone for the Utah robotics firm as it seeks to scale its Mobius® platform globally. By focusing on interoperability between different equipment brands, ASI aims to reshape how large-scale infrastructure projects are executed worldwide.
