Nextracker OnSight is an AI-driven robotics inspection and fireplace detection programs for solar energy crops. | Credit score: Nextracker
Nextracker is launching a enterprise initiative centered on synthetic intelligence and robotics. The corporate has already invested over $40 million prior to now 12 months to accumulate three key applied sciences and has appointed its first chief AI and robotics officer.
These strategic acquisitions will strengthen Nextracker’s digital platform, aiming to enhance the deployment and reliability of photo voltaic energy crops. The firm‘s final aim is to reinforce the long-term return on funding (ROI) for asset homeowners.
“With tens of millions of sensors and management nodes already deployed over roughly 100 GW of working programs in 40 international locations, Nextracker has a novel alternative to harness AI and robotics at scale,” said Dan Shugar, founder and CEO of Nextracker.
Nextracker appoints chief AI and robotics officer
Nextracker has appointed Dr. Francesco Borrelli as chief AI and robotics officer, a newly created govt position. A pioneer in predictive management programs, Dr. Borrelli brings a long time of expertise creating and commercializing autonomous applied sciences throughout robotics, automotive, and industrial sectors.
In his new position, Borrelli will lead the combination of AI, machine studying, and superior robotics into Nextracker’s merchandise and methods to help world scalability and long-term innovation.
“Dr. Borelli brings the imaginative and prescient and experience to steer this evolution, permitting us to ship deeper insights, well timed and incisive actions, and higher buyer ROI throughout our world know-how platform,” Shugar mentioned.
“Scaling photo voltaic to fulfill world power demand requires a brand new degree of autonomy in how we construct and function energy crops,” mentioned Borrelli. “I’m excited to hitch Nextracker on this position and assist lead the combination of AI and robotics—turning discipline knowledge into real-time motion that drives photo voltaic plant efficiency, reduces danger, and accelerates deployment.”
OnSight’s autonomous cellular robotic inspects photo voltaic panels throughout patrols at a photo voltaic farm. | Credit score: Nextracker
OnSight the newest know-how acquisition
As a key element of its digital and robotics platform, Nextracker acquired OnSight Expertise, a pioneer in autonomous inspection and fire-detection programs for solar energy crops. OnSight mentioned its AI-driven instruments allow predictive upkeep by figuring out and forecasting widespread mechanical and electrical failures, serving to asset homeowners cut back operational danger, enhance uptime, and handle website well being proactively.
OnSight’s group of robotics engineers, discipline operations specialists, and product builders have joined Nextracker, and its merchandise at the moment are commercially obtainable within the U.S. with a worldwide rollout deliberate for subsequent 12 months.
“Becoming a member of Nextracker is an thrilling new chapter for OnSight Expertise,” mentioned Derek Chase, CEO of OnSight. “From Day 1, our mission has been to carry superior robotics and intelligence into the photo voltaic discipline. Along with Nextracker, we will ship smarter diagnostics at scale to enhance response time, cut back danger, and strengthen ROI.”
Nextracker additionally introduced two beforehand undisclosed acquisitions. In August 2024, it acquired SenseHawk IP, which allows the creation of high-resolution 3D as-built maps of photo voltaic challenge websites utilizing AI-enabled drone-captured imagery. The maps help exact geolocation and digital mannequin alignment to reinforce website commissioning and integration with optimization software program similar to TrueCapture.
In March 2025, Nextracker acquired Amir Robotics, which has developed a light-weight, water-free robotic cleansing know-how designed for day by day operation at large-scale photo voltaic websites. It’s going to combine the system into its current knowledge infrastructure to scale back soil-related yield loss. Amir Robotics’ robots are at present being examined at a number of business websites.
“Integrating robotics and AI into Nextracker’s know-how platform is a great transfer,” mentioned Sheldon Kimber, CEO of Intersect Energy. “We had been early adopters of OnSight’s robotic inspection know-how and imagine that Nextracker has the experience and world footprint to scale a majority of these services and products to multi-gigawatt deployment ranges.”
Be taught extra about discipline robotics at RoboBusiness
Don’t miss discussions by trade leaders in discipline robotics on the upcoming RoboBusiness 2025 convention on Oct. 15 and 16 in Santa Clara, Calif.
Classes will embody:
