A&K Robotics Secures $8M for Autonomous Terminal Mobility

A&K Robotics' Cruz: an autonomous robot providing safe, accessible passenger transport in busy airport terminals. | Credit: A&K Robotics

A&K Robotics has raised $8 million in Series A funding to expand the deployment of its autonomous passenger pods, tackling a growing accessibility challenge in global air travel. Led by BDC Capital and Vantage Futures, this investment will speed up the rollout of Cruz, a self-driving robot engineered to navigate crowded airport terminals and offer independent mobility for the millions of travelers with physical limitations.

Airport navigation is stressful for many, but it poses a particular hurdle for individuals with mobility issues. Approximately 17% of the global population experiences mobility challenges, and requests for airport assistance are rising 10–15% annually—outpacing overall passenger growth.

A&K aims to establish a new category of autonomous passenger mobility infrastructure to meet this need. The funding round was led by BDC's Industrial Innovation Venture Fund, part of BDC Capital—one of Canada's largest and most active venture capital investors—and Vantage Futures, the corporate venture arm of airport and transportation leader Vantage Group.

Shaping the future of airport mobility

A&K Robotics is developing autonomous mobility solutions for airports—self-driving vehicles built to transport passengers through complex indoor spaces. With airports confronting rising passenger numbers, labor shortages, and stricter accessibility standards, the company collaborates closely with major operators to integrate autonomous mobility into daily operations.

Cruz is a self-driving mobility robot that transports passengers through high-traffic, dynamic settings like airport terminals. Functioning as an indoor-specific autonomous vehicle, it allows riders to select a destination; Cruz then navigates independently using onboard sensors and advanced AI. It adjusts its route in real time to move safely among pedestrians and arrive accurately at the chosen spot. Operating continuously, Cruz enables airports to provide reliable, scalable, and accessible passenger mobility.

“Air travel is chaotic enough—reaching your gate shouldn’t add to the stress,” said Matthew Anderson, CEO of A&K Robotics. “We’re building the infrastructure that helps airports move more people, more safely, and with greater independence, all while integrating seamlessly into existing workflows.”

Cruz is already operating in complex, live airport environments, partnering with leading airport operators across North America and Europe, including Vancouver International Airport (YVR). YVR has been named Best Airport in North America 15 times and ranks among the world’s Top 10 airports by aviation research firm Skytrax. Another key partner is Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD), operated by Aena—the world’s largest airport operator by passenger volume, serving over 380 million travelers each year.