Cosmic Robotics’ Robots Promise Rapid Solar Panel Rollouts
Solar Power Surge Sparks a Worker Shortage
By 2033, installers will need more hands than the job market can hand!
Even with a projected 48% bump in solar installer jobs, the U.S. industry still faces a talent crunch. The culprit? Most solar farms sit in deserts, where the work is as tough as it is hot.
- Panels can weigh up to 90 pounds and have to be lifted several feet off the ground.
- Workers spend hours every day carrying these heavy loads.
- Extreme conditions quickly tire, and sometimes hurt, the crew.
Cosmic Robotics: The Robo‑Helper That Lets Humans Do the Fancy Stuff
“It’s terrible work in remote places,” says James Emerick, co‑founder and CEO of Cosmic, after talking with TechCrunch. “That’s why we built a robot to lift the heavy stuff.”
- The current prototype is an eight‑wheeled vehicle topped with a robotic arm.
- The arm uses suction cups to lift panels and cameras to sense its surroundings.
- High‑accuracy GPS keeps it on track, while a small trailer carries the panels.
- At the end of the day, the robot returns to the depot to recharge.
Funding and Future Outlook
Cosmic just secured a $4 million pre‑seed round, led by Giant Ventures with participation from HCVC, MaC Ventures, and angel investors like Azeem Azhar and Nate Williams.
With this capital, the startup can fine‑tune its semi‑autonomous system, aiming to make solar installation less grueling for the workforce and more efficient for utilities.
Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda
Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital, Elad Gil — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They’re here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $600+ before prices rise.
Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda
Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They’re here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise.
Revolutionizing Solar Panel Installation in San Francisco
From October 27 to 29, 2025, the city buzzes with one of the most exciting innovations in clean energy: a robotic pair of helping hands that is about to change the game for solar panel installers.
What the Robot Brings to the Table
- Precision – The Cosmic‑1A robot can drop a panel within mere millimeters of its target spot.
- Speed – It works at a pace comparable to the fastest humans, placing a panel every 30–40 seconds.
- Endurance – Unlike tired installers, the robot never needs a full break. Workers can take their normal pause, but the robot keeps going.
Why This Matters for Solar and Data Centers
Solar power has already proven to be cheap and fast, especially for the booming data‑center industry. The new automation technology could:
- Double the daily output – A crew can split in half, installing twice as many panels.
- Reduce downtime – Fewer human bottlenecks mean a smoother workflow.
- Accelerate deployment – In an era where power fast tracks are critical, speed is the name of the game.
Future Plans
By year’s end, Cosmic’s team will roll out several Cosmic‑1A robots into real production sites. Because data‑center developers love quick, low‑cost solutions, the robot is likely to become a favored tool.
In the Words of Emerick
“We see this as a force amplifier, not taking jobs,” Emerick notes. “The robot opens up new possibilities and lets more people do the work.”
“Speed of deployment is everything,” he adds. “Data centers are measured in megawatts, not FLOPS. Speed matters.”
