HaaS 100 (early August 2025)

Hardware-as-a-service (HaaS) is gaining momentum across a variety of industries. Many of the early adopters of HaaS are in robotics, offering robots-as-a-service (RaaS) to decrease barriers to entry and improve overall value to customers. Others offer machine-as-a-service (MaaS), device-as-a-service (DaaS), or equipment-as-a-service (EaaS).

Some companies pitch outcomes more than assets, offering data-as-a-service or platform-as-a-service models. From network-as-a-service to facades cleaning; managed service providers (MSPs) to managed security service providers (MSSPs); and autonomous construction equipment to diagnostic sensors and 3D printers, these companies are on the cutting-edge of their fields.

This post is part of a series about modern hardware companies, their business models, and the future of HaaS. For more, see posts from early and late April, early and late May, early and late June, and early and late July.

VisionNav Robotics

• Founded date: 2016
• Location: Atlanta, Georgia (global HQ in Shenzhen, China)
• Employees: ~150
• What they do: Autonomous forklifts and AMRs for warehouse and logistics automation
• Customers: Amway, Tupperware, Suning, Yanfeng
• Website: visionnav.com

VisionNav Robotics builds autonomous industrial vehicles and software systems that automate a wide range of logistics tasks, from trailer truck loading and unloading to high-bay racking and horizontal material transport. The company’s solutions combine advanced robotics and deep learning technologies to enable driverless forklifts, mobile robots, and traction vehicles to operate with millimeter-level precision in complex, semi-structured environments. Its Robot Control System (RCS) orchestrates fleets across logistics and manufacturing sites, increasing throughput, improving space utilization, and reducing labor dependency. VisionNav’s flagship product, the VNST20 PRO, exemplifies this approach: it autonomously loads or unloads a trailer truck in just 45 minutes, adapting in real time to different truck sizes, pallet types, and lighting conditions.

VisionNav’s pricing varies by deployment scope and hardware configuration. Additional expenses may include software licensing for RCS or integrations with customer WMS/MES systems, ongoing maintenance and support fees, and initial training and commissioning. While VisionNav primarily sells its systems as capital purchases through system integrators, some customers opt for managed services or longer-term leases that bundle hardware and software into a recurring cost structure—akin to hybrid hardware-as-a-service (HaaS). This flexibility helps customers scale their operations efficiently while benefiting from continuous software updates and support.

“Our mission is simple,” says Luyang Li, co-founder and CEO of VisionNav Robotics. “Warehouses and factories want automation that works out of the box and keeps working without friction. By offering flexible deployment models—from capital investment to service-based options—we help customers solve real-world problems today, not years from now.”

Zipline

• Founded date: 2014
• Location: South San Francisco, California
• Employees: ~1,300
• What they do: Autonomous drone delivery for on-demand, emission-free logistics
• Key customers: Walmart, GNC, Panera Bread, Intermountain Health, Cleveland Clinic, the Government of Rwanda
• Website: flyzipline.com

Zipline offers a fully autonomous, zero-emission drone delivery service designed to transport everything from medical supplies to fresh food and everyday essentials. The company’s battery-powered drones, known as Zips, can travel up to 70 mph, covering a 60-mile range with precision. Unlike conventional drones, Zips fly at high altitudes and use a quiet propeller design, making them nearly inaudible. When delivering, a fully autonomous droid descends on a tether to gently place packages in precise locations—whether it’s a hospital’s cold-chain storage or a customer’s patio table. This seamless, end-to-end system integrates with businesses’ existing operations, allowing them to offer fast, reliable, and environmentally friendly delivery services.

Rather than selling its drones, Zipline operates on a service-based pricing model, charging businesses and organizations per delivery. The cost of a delivery varies depending on the location, volume, and type of goods transported. This model allows businesses, healthcare providers, and governments to access cutting-edge logistics without investing in drone infrastructure themselves. By maintaining control over its fleet, Zipline ensures consistent reliability, efficiency, and safety, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional delivery methods that rely on gas-powered vehicles.

Graze Robotics

• Founded date: 2017
• Location: Los Angeles, California
• Employees: ~35
• What they do: Fully electric autonomous mowers for commercial landscapes
• Customers: Airport, golf course, and solar field operators
• Website: grazemowing.com 

Graze Robotics’ flagship product is a fully autonomous, environmentally friendly robotic lawn mower (the G3) for commercial landscapes. Equipped with advanced sensors, precision path planning, obstacle detection, and a robust safety suite, the G3 provides efficient mowing with minimal environmental impact. Graze’s electric mowers operate on an 8-hour battery runtime, have blades that operate at 3,000 RPM, can mow 1.6 acres per hour, and utilize machine learning and computer vision for task optimization, offering operators a reliable and safe solution for large-scale grounds maintenance. The mowers are designed to work across a variety of terrains, including uneven landscapes, with precision and adaptability. Operators simply set perimeters for the mowing area and designate no-mow zones, and the robots begin mowing. Graze’s Smart Command Center provides real-time monitoring and performance data as the mowers navigate their tasks, allowing operators to track progress, adjust settings, and receive performance insights.

Graze offers a scalable robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) model for its mowers. Customers pay $5,000 per unit per month with a three-year contract, and gain access to the company’s latest technology without large upfront costs. A subscription gives customers access to the mowers, along with ongoing maintenance and software updates, making it affordable and flexible. The model is designed to help businesses efficiently maintain large-scale properties while maximizing the ROI of their equipment. Customers can earn rebates from local authorities, allowing them to further benefit from their investment.

RSi Visual Systems

• Founded date: 1996
• Location: Coppell, Texas
• Employees: ~80
• What they do: Advanced visual systems for flight simulators
• Customers: airlines, military entities, pilot training centers, and simulator manufacturers
• Website: rsi-visuals.com 

RSi is a provider of advanced visual systems designed specifically for flight simulators; the company specializes in solutions for both airplane and helicopter pilot training. Their offerings include image generators, projection systems, optical display systems, and comprehensive simulator services designed to meet the rigorous standards of pilot training programs. The systems exceed industry standards, ensuring that trainees experience lifelike visuals that prepare them for real-world flying conditions. RSi’s offerings are used by a wide range of clients, including airlines, military organizations, and pilot training centers. Turnkey solutions help organizations enhance training programs by improving the quality and accuracy of simulations while reducing maintenance costs and technical issues.

RSI offers a flexible pricing model that caters to different needs and budgets. For those looking to make traditional purchases, the company offers upfront pricing; but its Epic Prime service model takes a subscription-based approach. This model allows clients to pay a flat monthly fee for comprehensive access to RSi’s visual systems. With Epic Prime, customers enjoy all the benefits of owning a state-of-the-art visual system, without the burden of a large capital investment. Subscriptions include delivery, installation, regularly-scheduled support visits, unlimited airport library access, software updates, spares, and repairs. This “visuals-as-a-service” package (a subset of hardware-as-a-service) provides predictable costs and ensures that clients are always supported with the latest technology.

Burro

• Founded date: 2017
• Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Employees: ~60
• What they do: Collaborative robots for outdoor labor automation
• Key customers: Altman Plants, Costa Group, HMC Farms, Lagomarsino Group
• Website: burro.ai

Burro develops autonomous, collaborative robots designed to assist workers in agricultural and outdoor industries by carrying, towing, scouting, and performing a range of tasks that reduce labor demands. The company’s core technology combines high-precision GPS, computer vision, AI-powered navigation, and 360-degree LiDAR, allowing Burro robots to move independently while learning from their environment. The company’s models—Burro, Burro Verde, and Burro Grande—offer flexible capabilities like harvest assistance, greenhouse transport, mowing, and autonomous spraying. With plug-and-play functionality, Burro robots work seamlessly alongside people and require no centralized command infrastructure: operators can teach a route once and share it across an entire fleet for instant scalability. Through Burro’s BOSS+ mission management system, businesses can monitor, manage, and update their fleets remotely via a simple web interface.

Burro offers multiple pricing models to accommodate businesses of all sizes, including outright purchases, leasing options, and flexible financing. Their robots can also be acquired through a hybrid hardware-as-a-service (HaaS) model, in which customers own the hardware but gain access to ongoing software updates, autonomy enhancements, and fleet management tools through subscription-based services. Burro’s BOSS+ and Atlas platforms enable companies to scale their fleets efficiently and benefit from continuous AI-driven improvements, over-the-air software updates, and cloud-based mission planning. This model ensures that businesses can integrate automation seamlessly while maintaining flexibility, predictable costs, and access to the latest advancements in autonomy and robotics.