Petra develops the first non-contact, thermal-drilling robotic system designed to bore trenchless utility installations between 18–72 inches in diameter through hard rock and varied ground conditions. Its machinery is remotely operable, reversible through the carrier pipe for maintenance, and intended to reduce cost and downtime compared with legacy tunneling methods. Petra positions its technology to enable undergrounding in previously impenetrable geologies, improving safety and expanding feasible project locations. The company emphasizes utility-scale applications and aims to make undergrounding more accessible and economical for communities. As part of the announced collaboration with Tekfen, Petra plans pilot work and adaptation of its system for mixed-condition trenchless methods. No operating metrics or financial figures were disclosed in the article. Petra builds Swifty, a robotic tunneling system that uses machine vision and a thermal drilling method to bore through hard rock without direct contact. The company says Swifty completed a pilot boring a 20-foot tunnel through Sioux Quartzite at roughly one inch per minute. Unlike conventional microtunneling machines built for a single diameter, Swifty can bore a range of 20–60 inches, which Petra says reduces tunneling costs. Petra positions the technology to underground utilities to protect communities from wildfires and improve infrastructure safety in mountainous and coastal regions. Tesla co-founder Ian Wright has signed on as the company’s CTO and Kim Abrams is CEO. The company emerged from stealth alongside this pilot and recent fundraise.

Total raised

$30M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Series A

Latest activity

Dec 2021