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 August, early and late September, early and late October, and early November.
Haystack Robotics provides AI-powered autonomous robots for hospital-grade disinfection, floor cleaning and delivery. The company’s flagship robot, Violet, uses UV-C light to disinfect both air and surfaces with up to 99.99% effectiveness, navigating autonomously through indoor environments like hospitals, clinics, hotels and offices. Haystack also offers the CC1, a 4-in-1 cleaning robot that vacuums, scrubs, sweeps, and mops floors, as well as smart delivery and reception bots like KettyBot and BellaBot. All systems feature onboard AI, LIDAR-based navigation, and cloud dashboards for performance reports, remote monitoring, and over-the-air updates. These solutions are designed to reduce microbial load in rooms, leading to improved human health. Haystack's solutions can reduce labor costs while improving cleaning consistency, auditability, and speed.
Haystack sells robots and also offers its products through a subscription-based Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) model. Customers lease robots on a monthly basis, gaining access to the full suite of hardware, software, maintenance, and updates without the burden of capital expenditure or upkeep. Plans include installation, mapping, training, 24/7 support, and real-time usage analytics. This recurring model makes the technology accessible to organizations that need rapid, verifiable disinfection and cleaning, but want to avoid up-front costs and the hassle of procurement and depreciation.
“Haystack Robotics was founded upon the mission to protect people from infection,” says Chief Commercialization Officer Chris Ulum. “Our solutions enable our customers to provide cleaner spaces while assigning the dull, dirty, and sometimes dangerous jobs to robots—jobs that are already difficult for our customers to staff. Subscription-based robotics gives our customers fast, scalable access to advanced automation, with none of the complexity. They get a safer, smarter, more efficient facility—and we make sure the robots just work.”
Skydio
Skydio designs and manufactures autonomous aerial systems for government, defense, and enterprise customers. Leveraging advanced AI, computer vision, and edge computing, the company's drones can autonomously navigate complex environments and carry out missions like infrastructure inspection, situational awareness, and reconnaissance, without requiring GPS or constant human control. Its flagship systems, including the Skydio X10 and X10D, offer full autonomy, thermal and visual sensors, and seamless integration with third-party payloads. Skydio drones are actively used by every branch of the U.S. military, hundreds of public safety agencies, and major utility providers, offering real-time data capture in high-stakes, data-sensitive operations.
Skydio operates on a hybrid recurring sales model that combines hardware sales with software subscriptions. Customers purchase the drones and layer on subscriptions to the company’s software offerings—including Autonomy Enterprise Foundation for navigation, Skydio 3D Scan for automated inspections, and Skydio Cloud for fleet management and data storage. Optional modules like Remote Ops allow for beyond-line-of-sight operations, while maintenance, updates, and training are packaged in various service tiers. This flexible pricing model ensures agencies and enterprises can scale and adapt as mission needs evolve—without the overhead of maintaining or developing autonomy systems in-house.
Novarc Technologies
Novarc Technologies develops collaborative robotic systems and AI-powered tools for pipe and pressure vessel welding. The company's core products—including the Spool Welding Robot (SWR), the SWR-TIPTIG system, and the NovAI vision platform—are designed to automate repetitive welds, improve consistency, and address skilled labor shortages in industries like construction, shipbuilding, and energy. Novarc’s technology integrates real-time machine vision and adaptive controls, allowing welders and operators to oversee multiple tasks while maintaining precise, high-quality welds with minimal intervention. Its systems provide continuous monitoring, data capture, and operational insight to improve throughput and reduce error rates.
Novarc’s pricing follows a hybrid hardware-as-a-service (HaaS) model, offering customers flexible options to purchase or subscribe to its equipment. The subscription includes access to the full hardware-software stack, NovEye and NovSync systems, data dashboards, and ongoing technical support. Customers can also choose financing options that delay payments for up to six months, making it easier to adopt automation without major upfront costs. The model is designed to accommodate both large industrial fabricators and smaller shops, ensuring scalability across various use cases. It lowers the barrier to entry for high-tech welding automation while enabling Novarc to deliver updates, insights, and performance improvements over time.
Toggle Robotics
Toggle Robotics develops robotics and automation solutions that streamline the pre-assembly of rebar for reinforced concrete construction. Their full-stack system combines proprietary hardware—including the Weaver Workcell—and Toggle OS software, which translates construction drawings into efficient robotic workflows. This system allows for offsite pre-assembly of structural components, enhancing speed, precision, and worker safety on high-volume infrastructure and renewable energy projects. Toggle’s technology supports a hybrid human-machine workflow, balancing robotic productivity with skilled labor to meet the demands of modern construction.
Rather than selling or licensing their robotics outright, Toggle operates under a service-based model similar to hardware-as-a-service (HaaS). Through their sister company, Toggle Construction, they deliver pre-assembled rebar directly to job sites, charging on a per-project or per-unit basis. This offering includes access to Toggle’s proprietary robotics, engineering support, logistics, and project oversight—bundled as a comprehensive service. For regions beyond the reach of their Pennsylvania production facility, Toggle is beginning to license its Weaver Workcell and Toggle OS software, enabling customers to run Toggle-powered operations on their own premises while maintaining consistency in quality and safety.
Agrology
Agrology offers predictive agriculture tools that give farmers ground-truth insights into soil health, carbon flux, and climate threats—no models or estimates, just real-time data. The company’s Arbiter system continuously measures soil CO₂ and N₂O emissions to quantify the impact of regenerative practices with scientific precision, while its Sentinel system tracks drought, extreme weather, smoke taint, and other microclimate risks. Together, they form a comprehensive platform that combines rugged sensors, AI-driven analytics, and mobile-first software to help growers adapt quickly, validate sustainability claims, and drive smarter decisions from the ground up.
The company uses a simple subscription model that includes all hardware, installation, maintenance, software, and upgrades—everything needed to keep systems running and data flowing. Instead of buying sensors that can break or become obsolete, growers pay a predictable monthly fee per acre and always have access to the latest technology and insights. This pricing approach lowers upfront costs, removes technical barriers, and makes high-resolution monitoring and sustainability reporting accessible to farms of any size or budget.