Wheel.me

Based in Oslo, Norway, Wheel.me is a robotics and Internet of Things (IoT) company established in 2013 by co-founders Atle Timenes, Rolf Libakken, and Kurt Hauge. The initial idea stemmed from Libakken's personal experience of frequently helping friends and family move heavy furniture, leading to the invention of a mechanical 'click-wheel' reminiscent of a ballpoint pen mechanism. This concept evolved, and by 2020, the company had developed the "Genius," its signature autonomous wheel.

Wheel.me specializes in converting existing objects and infrastructure into autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). Its core product, the Genius 2, is a system of four or eight robotic wheels that can be retrofitted onto almost any object, such as carts, racks, or trolleys, effectively turning them into self-driving units without significant changes to current workflows. The wheels are equipped with advanced sensors, including Lidar and 360-degree cameras, and utilize indoor navigation technology and data analytics to move safely and efficiently through dynamic environments like warehouses, manufacturing plants, and hospitals. This approach allows for the automation of material handling for tasks such as replenishing assembly lines, waste management, and transporting inbound shipments.

The company's business model targets a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, automotive, logistics, and healthcare. By transforming existing equipment into AMRs, clients can automate their intralogistics at a fraction of the cost of traditional AGV or AMR solutions, which often require high initial investments and infrastructure overhauls. For example, a global automotive manufacturer replaced two broken AMRs, which cost €40,000 each, with Wheel.me's solution for a third of the price, saving 120 minutes per day. The company has secured partnerships with major corporations like Porsche and Skanska and has received significant orders, including one for over 600 Genius wheels from a North American customer valued at $2.2 million in late 2023. Wheel.me has raised a total of $10.4 million over eight funding rounds, with its latest Series A round in February 2021. It has expanded its presence globally with offices in the US and Mexico.

Keywords: autonomous wheels, indoor mobility, material handling automation, robotics, IoT, intralogistics, warehouse automation, retrofitting, mobile robots, logistics technology