SafeAI

SafeAI is a Santa Clara, California-based company that specializes in retrofitting heavy equipment for autonomous applications in the mining and construction industries. Founded in 2017 by Bibhrajit Halder, SafeAI's core offering is an autonomous retrofit kit that can be applied to existing vehicles from any manufacturer, transforming them into self-operating robotic assets. The company's technology utilizes advanced multimodal sensors, including LiDAR, radar, and cameras, along with AI-powered software and significant onboard computing power to enable vehicles to navigate and complete tasks independently.

SafeAI's autonomous solution is built on a safety-certifiable framework called the SafeAI Autonomous Framework (SAF), which achieved the highest safety integrity level certification, ASIL D, in August 2023. This operating system is purpose-built for heavy industry applications of autonomy and allows companies to leverage SafeAI's infrastructure to accelerate their autonomous application development. The company's retrofit approach enables mining and construction companies to upgrade their existing fleets rather than purchasing entirely new autonomous equipment, making the transition to autonomy more cost-effective and scalable.

In addition to its autonomous technology, SafeAI has expanded into electric vehicle conversions. In January 2024, in collaboration with Japanese construction company Obayashi Corporation and AVIA Engineering, SafeAI unveiled what it claims to be the world's first haul truck retrofitted with both autonomous and electric technologies. This Caterpillar 725 articulated dump truck demonstrates the company's commitment to combining autonomy with sustainability solutions for the heavy industry sector.

Key customers and partnerships

SafeAI has established several notable partnerships in the mining and construction industries. In late 2021, the company partnered with MACA, an Australian mining contractor, to retrofit a fleet of 100 mixed vehicles for autonomy. This project, which began with the successful deployment of a 180-ton Hitachi haul truck at the Karlawinda gold mine, represents one of the world's largest autonomous heavy equipment fleets.

In June 2022, SafeAI announced a collaboration with Siemens and Obayashi Corporation to develop autonomous and zero-emission solutions for a fleet of 300 construction trucks operated by Obayashi. This partnership aims to retrofit vehicles ranging from 45 to 65 tons over a three-year period, combining SafeAI's autonomy expertise with Siemens' hardware and software capabilities in zero-emission powertrains.