Silicon Valley startup OpenMind is bringing a software revolution to the robotics industry. Unlike many robotics companies that focus on hardware development, OpenMind has set its sights on the "brain" of robots — developing an operating system called OM1, with the goal of becoming the "Android" of the robotics industry.

Shifting from Hardware Competition to Software Ecosystem

Current competition in the robotics industry mainly focuses on the hardware level, including the development of functional components such as motion control, object grasping, and environmental interaction. However, OpenMind has chosen a completely different path, focusing on building the software infrastructure for robots. The OM1 operating system developed by the company is open and hardware-agnostic, a design philosophy highly similar to Android's successful model in the mobile device industry.

Jan Liphardt, founder of OpenMind and a professor at Stanford University, told TechCrunch that traditional robots are already quite mature in performing repetitive tasks, but as humanoid robots begin to enter application scenarios requiring more human-robot interaction — such as home environments — they need a new operating system that can operate more like a human mind.

Liphardt pointed out: "Suddenly, the world opened up possibilities for machines to interact with humans in ways I've never seen before. We firmly believe this is not just about humans; we truly see ourselves as a company that promotes collaboration between machines and humans."

FABRIC Protocol: A "Social Network" for Robots

The FABRIC protocol released by OpenMind on Monday is an important demonstration of its technological innovation. This protocol allows robots to verify identities and share contextual information and data with other robots, essentially building a trust and collaboration network for robots, similar to human society.

Different from humans, machines can learn almost instantaneously, Liphardt explained. This means providing better connectivity for robots will allow them to train and absorb new information more easily. He used language learning as an example to illustrate this concept: robots can connect with each other and share data on how to speak different languages, which will help them interact better with more people without humans directly teaching each language.

"Humans take it for granted that they can interact with anyone on Earth," Liphardt said. "We have built a lot of infrastructure around us that allows us to trust others, call them, send messages, interact, coordinate, and complete tasks together. Of course, machines are no different."

This information-sharing mechanism between robots is expected to significantly improve the learning efficiency and adaptability of the entire robot ecosystem. When a robot acquires a new skill or experience, it can quickly share it with other robots in the network through the FABRIC protocol, enabling rapid evolution of collective intelligence.

Leading with Practice: First Batch of Robot Dogs Soon to Be Delivered

OpenMind was founded in 2024 and is currently preparing to deliver the first 10 robot dogs equipped with the OM1 system in September. Liphardt said he believes it is important to quickly bring the technology to market and then iterate and improve based on actual use.

"We fully expect all users who receive these quadrupedal robots to come back with a long list of things they don't like or want, and then we need to iterate and improve these robots very, very quickly," he said.

This "deploy first, optimize later" strategy reflects the typical fast iteration culture of Silicon Valley. By allowing real users to use the product in real-world environments, OpenMind can obtain the most direct and valuable feedback, guiding the future development direction of the product.

The company recently completed a $20 million funding round led by Pantera Capital, with participation from several strategic investors and angel investors including Ribbit, Coinbase Ventures, and Pebblebed. This funding will be primarily used for product marketing and technological iteration.

Market Strategy: Starting with Home Scenarios

OpenMind's current focus is on introducing its technology into home environments and beginning the product iteration process. Liphardt emphasized: "For us, the most important thing is to get the robots out there and get feedback. Our company's goal is to conduct as many of these tests as possible so that we can quickly identify the most promising opportunities and achieve the best match between today's robot capabilities and human needs."

The choice of home scenarios is strategically significant. Compared to industrial or commercial environments, home users have higher demands for human-like interactions with robots, which is exactly where the OM1 operating system excels. By accumulating experience in this scenario, OpenMind is expected to find the most suitable application direction for its technology.

Industry Outlook: The Era of Software-Defined Robots

The emergence of OpenMind marks that the robotics industry may be entering a new stage of "software-defined" development. Just as the smartphone industry shifted from hardware competition to ecosystem competition, the robotics industry may also undergo a similar transformation.

If OM1 successfully establishes a unified software platform in the robotics industry, it will create a standardized development environment and rich application ecosystem for the entire industry. This will not only help lower the barriers to robot development but also accelerate the emergence of various innovative applications.

With the upcoming delivery of the first products and the launch of the FABRIC protocol, OpenMind is laying the foundation for building a robot internet. The realization of this vision will profoundly change how robots work, transforming them from isolated individuals into collaborative networks, opening up new possibilities for human-machine collaboration.