Lockheed Martin [LMT] on Wednesday said its venture unit has invested in Launchpad.build
, a small startup focused on using artificial intelligence and simulation for agile on-demand, low volume production runs at low cost.
The value of the investment was not disclosed and includes high net worth individuals.
Launchpad said it will invest the funds in working capital to help it scale and “improve upon our industry leading capabilities and help customers leverage AI to more efficiently design, manufacture, maintain, and improve products.”
The Irwindale, Calif.-based company has about 10 employees and said it offers customers a “one-manufacturing-line-for-all.” In less than six weeks Launchpad says it can go from offering a customer a quote to establishing automated sourcing, production line setup, and assembly.
Launchpad’s Digitool automates product assembly without the need for programming and performs tasks such as “pick and place, screwdriving, gluing, customization, and more,” it says. The company says it uses simulation to understand a customer’s product and then employs precision cameras and AI to make the transition to assembly.
“In this way, the Digitool simply needs to be provided a product CAD file and it will automatically configure itself and build your product,” Launchpad says on its website.
Lockheed Martin said the investment in an advanced manufacturer is aimed at strengthening the industrial base.
“At Lockheed Martin, we want to stabilize our national security industrial base with an anti-fragility approach, Chris Moran, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Ventures, said in a statement. “Launchpad’s vision in developing groundbreaking automated, yet highly variable and scalable solutions, aligns with our vision of agile and responsive manufacturing.”
Launchpad.build was co-founded by Yoav Zingher, the CEO, Bill Gross, and Ofer Ricklis, chief technology officer. The company said it has about a dozen customers that include two Fortune 500 companies. Its customers are in the space, automotive, millwork, and industrial equipment industries.