Amorphology
Component
NASA/Caltech spinout making lubricant-free bulk-metallic-glass gears and components for robots and spacecraft.
Amorphology makes gears, gear assemblies and precision components from bulk metallic glass — amorphous metal alloys that are moulded rather than machined. The materials are strong, elastic and self-lubricating, so gearboxes built from them run without oil, which is why the technology originated in NASA JPL work on planetary rovers where lubricants freeze. Amorphology holds licences to roughly 30 Caltech/JPL patents and applies them to strain-wave and planetary gears for collaborative robots, humanoids and spacecraft, plus metallic-glass coatings and metal additive manufacturing. A 13,000 sq ft Pasadena facility runs prototype and small-series production, backed by Kairos Ventures.
Research mapping
Physical AI / Materials & Critical Components (L3) / Component
Evidence boundary
Original analysis and independent corroboration remain under development. Commercial scale and durable technical advantage remain under review.
Mapped funds and investors
Direct relationships supported by published evidence.
Reported holdings as-of
No sourced relationships mapped yet.
Disclosed investment history
No sourced relationships mapped yet.
Showing up to four relationships in each group. ETF weights describe the fund’s portfolio, not ownership of this company. Private investment history does not establish current ownership.
What makes it defensible
Licences to ~30 Caltech/JPL amorphous-metal patents plus production moulding know-how — the IP position on lubricant-free metallic-glass gears, which no gear incumbent holds.
Position in the stack: Component supplier one layer below the actuator: its gears go into strain-wave and planetary reducers and robot joints, where lubrication-free operation and wear life are the binding constraints.
Who buys it
Named customers: Leading strain wave gear manufacturer
Founding team
Douglas Hofmann — Founder & Scientific Advisor — Senior research scientist at NASA JPL and visiting associate at Caltech; developed the bulk-metallic-glass gear technology in his JPL labs and licensed ~30 patents through Caltech.
Glenn Garrett — Chief Technology Officer — Leads technical development of amorphous-metal gears and components at Amorphology.
Source