Renu Robotics Showcases Dual-Use Autonomous Mower at eMERGE Americas

Renu Robotics, a San Antonio-based autonomous robotics company founded in 2018 by Tim Matus, will showcase its innovative industrial autonomous mowing platform at eMERGE Americas in Miami this May as a featured company with SBIR Advisors at Booth 557. Originally developed for utility-scale solar farms where extreme heat, safety hazards, and labor shortages make traditional mowing impractical, the company's third-generation robot stands 28 inches tall with a 64-inch cutting deck across a 10-foot platform, operating at three to five miles per hour using advanced LIDAR, cameras, and AI-powered Human-Animal-Vehicle (HAV) detection for safe autonomous operation. The technology represents a significant advancement in autonomous vegetation management, addressing critical challenges in hazardous environments where human labor is scarce or dangerous.

What began as a commercial solution for solar energy sites has evolved into a dual-use platform serving both civilian and military applications through strategic partnerships. Through its collaboration with SBIR Advisors, Renu Robotics has secured multiple Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3 SBIR awards, funding critical technological advances including LTE GPS RTK corrections that eliminate the need for complex on-site signal infrastructure and tower communication systems that enable operation near active military runways. As Matus explained, "When we can find help in grant funding to build the technology and then use it in other markets, it really is helpful. The key is how you communicate with people in the military to understand the need for the use case on the commercial side as well." This cross-market application demonstrates the versatility and scalability of their autonomous solutions.

Attendees at eMERGE Americas will have the opportunity to see the Renu Robotics unit in action during Demo Day and throughout the conference at the Garage, a new hands-on exhibition space on the conference floor. Matus and members of the Renu Robotics engineering team will be available for conversations and live demonstrations, allowing potential partners and clients to experience the technology firsthand. As Matus emphasized, "There's no better feel for a product and what it can do than when you see it on the ground and moving around. Your mind will start flowing into what this can do differently and how we take people out of the process and put machines in place to solve real issues." The company's presence at this major technology conference highlights the growing importance of autonomous solutions in industrial applications and infrastructure management.