When Bernt Bornich founded Halodi Robotics in 2015, he had a vision of general purpose robots coexisting with humans to elevate humanity. Within three years, he had developed the world’s highest torque to weight drive servo motor, Revo1, tailored explicitly for low gear-ratio robotics and flexible mechanics.
Four years after that, the company began shipping EVE, its industrial android, to factories to help with automated tasks. Having definitively found its footing, the company changed its name to 1X Technologies in 2023 to mark, in Bornich’s words, an “important point in the evolution of 1X.”
The company’s evolution mirrors that of its Norwegian founder, who grew up dreaming of creating androids and who graduated from the University of Oslo with a degree in Robotics and Nanoelectronics. Bornich’s eyes, so to speak, have never deviated from the prize, and his dedication was rewarded in 2023 when OpenAI led 1X’s Series A funding extension.
Bornich is driven by a quote from Pippi Longstocking: “I have never tried that before, so I think I should definitely be able to do that.” That’s how he created the cutting-edge technology that made EVE possible, and why he continues to work on 1X’s next-generation platform which, he has said, is “showing some groundbreaking results for walking, running, and general operation in human environments.”
At the same time, he’s trying to make sure 1X’s robots are used in a good and responsible manner. You don’t have to be a sci-fi fiend to understand why that’s necessary, but Bornich understands the importance of security, safety, and privacy when it comes to robotics, especially as AI supercharges learning in the industry. That’s not artificial intelligence: It’s the genuine article.
