Odin’s fully autonomous technology is currently aimed at controlled environments such as warehouses, farms and mines, contrasting with their level 3 autonomy toolkit
By Ada Jain
Y Combinator announced Friday that Flux Auto, a Bengaluru-based startup focused on developing autonomous mobility technology, launched its new AI solution Odin.
Odin leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to fully automate vehicle operations in controlled environments such as warehouses, farms, and mines. Flux Auto’s solutions aim to reduce reliance on human drivers and enhance their productivity at a lower cost.
READ: Tackling code security with AI: In conversation with Corridor’s founder Ashwin Ramaswami (March 12, 2025)
Flux Auto has raised over $6 million in funding till date. The startup was initially bootstrapped and funded by Y Combinator, before investors like Metaplanet, Soma Ventures, and others joined the backing.
Odin is designed as a versatile application layer that can be customized for various use cases, including pallet detection for forklifts, implement control for tractors, and blade control for lawn mowers.
Founded in 2016 by Pranav Manpuria and Abhishek Gupta, Flux Auto takes a unique approach by retrofitting existing vehicles instead of building new robotic platforms. The startup has set up shop in Houston, Texas, to support its manufacturing efforts and the deployments are shipped to the U.S., India, and Mexico.
Odin’s fully autonomous technology is currently aimed at controlled environments such as warehouses, farms and mines, contrasting with their level 3 autonomy toolkit.
Level 3 autonomy refers to technology requiring driver presence. While top companies have avoided Indian roads for their unpredictability, co-founder Manpuria highlights India’s chaotic roads as an advantage for training robust algorithms. Flux Auto’s mission is to commercialize self-driving technology tailored to market needs while addressing safety concerns such as driver fatigue, which contributes to 13% of commercial vehicle accidents in the United States.
READ: Pulse plans to test and integrate Gemini 2.0 for document processing (February 7, 2025)
Earlier, the company had also developed a vision algorithm to enable long-haul trucks (reefers) to navigate autonomously on North American roads. Unlike global competitors like Google and Tesla that rely on expensive LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) systems, Flux Auto uses cost-effective sensor systems priced at just 10% of a single LIDAR’s cost.
In a LinkedIn post, Manpuria wrote, “Our mission with Odin isn’t to create new robotic platforms, but to retrofit and automate existing fleets, allowing businesses to enhance efficiency without replacing the equipment they already trust. With Odin we are targeting the tens of millions of commercial and industrial vehicles already in use across the globe.” Manpuria was also named among the Forbes 30 under 30 Asia list in 2024.