Rubetek Brings AI From the Cloud Into the Physical World
Rubetek has established the Rubetek Robotics division to develop software and hardware for robotics and Physical AI. The new unit will focus on robotic platform control and integration with building and industrial automation systems.
Rubetek LLC (Rubetek brand) is a leading Russian developer of smart-building, security and industrial IoT solutions. The company is a Skolkovo resident and is listed in the Russian Ministry of Digital Development’s registers of accredited IT companies and the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade’s register of radio-electronics manufacturers. Its products are also certified for integration with the Bezopasny Region (Safe Region) system. Development and manufacturing are based in Russia, helping the company replace imported IT and telecommunications technologies with locally developed alternatives.
Rubetek Robotics Gives Robots the Ability to Analyze and Act
The new division will develop products that allow machines to collect sensor data, analyze their surroundings and take what are essentially informed actions. That differs fundamentally from traditional robotics, where equipment mechanically repeats a predefined sequence. The main goal is to make autonomous devices compatible with commercial real estate infrastructure and production lines. Priority areas include warehouse logistics, physical security and industrial operations.
The move is backed by an established R&D base: Rubetek has its own full-cycle R&D unit and a robotics and AI laboratory opened in 2026 jointly with Innopolis University. The partners are already conducting applied research in computer vision, autonomous systems and service robotics, laying the groundwork for future robotic systems.
Robotics Becomes a New Front for Russian IT Giants
The new division comes as the Russian robotics market shows signs of renewed activity, with several major IT companies recently announcing their own developments. MTS Web Services has launched a Physical AI unit focused on VLA models and a marketplace for downloadable “skills.” Sber previously introduced the Grin anthropomorphic platform, while Rostelecom and T1 entered the market through integration projects.
The dominant model among these companies is to focus on the software layer and subscription-based formats such as Robotics-as-a-Service. Analysts estimate that the global RaaS market will grow 15% to 18% annually, reaching $8.4 billion by 2030. The domestic industry, however, faces a structural problem: Russia’s mass production of robots remains relatively limited. Most new entrants are primarily integrating and managing third-party hardware.
A Full-Cycle Approach
Rubetek is taking a different path by developing the business end to end. The company already manufactures its own smart-building devices, from sensors to modems and communications systems. Moving into robotics is a logical next step, giving Rubetek greater control over the product development chain and allowing it to build the hardware layer in-house.
The strategy also aligns with global trends. In 2025, Nvidia introduced its Isaac GR00T N1 foundational AI model, which combines visual perception, command interpretation and motion generation. Figure AI has taken the concept further: its robots operated for nearly a year on BMW’s assembly line, carrying out real manufacturing tasks. Examples like these are establishing a new industry standard in which the value of Physical AI is measured by how reliably a system performs on an actual factory floor.
Rising Demand for Automation
Over the next couple of years, Rubetek Robotics is likely to focus on prototypes and pilot projects. Developing general-purpose humanoid machines is not yet a priority. A more practical starting point is specialized equipment for monitoring, logistics and service operations. That approach builds on the company’s established IoT expertise while keeping technological risks in check.
Over the medium term, the company plans to move from prototypes to serial production. The domestic market offers favorable conditions for that transition: Arthur Consulting estimates that demand for robotics in Russia will rise from 30 billion rubles in 2025 (about $350 million) to 212 billion rubles by 2030 (about $2.4 billion). The main growth drivers are a structural labor shortage and government initiatives aimed at reaching a ratio of 145 industrial robots per 10,000 workers.
Exporting Algorithms
International expansion is more likely to center on high-margin IT components, including control software, computer-vision algorithms and robotic skills platforms, than on hardware shipments. The CIS countries are the most natural initial markets, as Rubetek has already completed a number of projects there.
The new division’s commercial success will ultimately be measured by practical results. These could include the first physical prototype, a contract with a real customer, the share of locally sourced components, software compatibility with third-party robots, patents and transparent implementation economics.
