Move past rigid, inflexible machines and deploy a software-defined workstation that gets smarter every shift.
SurfaceAI is a robotic workstation built for high-dust, high-mix environments. Alongside your skilled operators, it uses real-time computer vision to handle your most critical finishing tasks without the need for rigid jigs or perfect fixturing.
One flexible system. Endless finishing possibilities.
Block fiberglass sanding
Orbital wood sanding
Glue application
Gelcoat spray application
Polishing and waxing
Automation Built for the Reality of the Factory Floor
Jig-Free Part Placement
Automation that meets the part where it sits. SurfaceAI uses real-time vision to eliminate the need for expensive jigs and time-consuming fixturing. The system is tool-agnostic, so you can easily swap arms and end-effectors to handle any application without changing your workflow.
Eliminate Manual Rework
The same high-quality finish, every shift. SurfaceAI maintains controlled speed and pressure across every curve and radius. By automating repetitive tasks, you reduce defects and rework while freeing your skilled team to focus on high-value craftsmanship.
Evolve Beyond Static Hardware
A workstation that learns. Most machines are at their best the day they’re installed. Because SurfaceAI is software-defined, your system learns from its activity and improves over time.
SurfaceAI is deployed as a fully integrated, robust production cell built for high-dust, high-mix environments and integrates seamlessly into your existing processes.
The software runs on an industrial PC and is paired with industrial arms and a dedicated vacuum system for dust collection.
Create a Custom Finishing Plan
SurfaceAI uses high-resolution cameras and Viam’s vision service to scan your part in 3D and map the part's actual orientation in real-time.
It doesn't matter if your hull is off-center or sitting on a standard shop dolly—the software maps the surface and adjusts the toolpath.
Empower Operators to Target Specific Areas
Your operators may use an intuitive 3D interface to drag-and-drop or circle specific areas that need targeted focus, like low spots or heavy material buildup.
You set the goal, and the system calculates the optimal path and pressure to make it happen.
Execute the Finish
SurfaceAI applies controlled speed and pressure throughout its runs, following organic curves and radii to maintain global flatness and a fair surface.
For sanding, the system also includes an integrated vacuum for dust collection, benefiting working conditions and the final finish
Optimize Your Machine Over Time
Every job adds to the system's knowledge, improving its surface reads, its pressure calibration, and its path efficiency.
Your workstation evolves over time, ensuring your investment never goes stagnant.
“Viam’s open architecture represents a paradigm shift that will bring the promises of robotics to the devices we use every day.”
Albert Wenger, Partner, Union Square Ventures, Viam Board of Directors
A Partner for the Long Haul
Automating your floor shouldn't be a gamble. Viam partners with you to ensure SurfaceAI integrates seamlessly into your production line from day one.
Subscription without Upfront CapEx
A simple monthly subscription that covers the software, hardware, and ongoing maintenance. No massive upfront CapEx or "black box" depreciation.
Rapid Deployment
We don't believe in year-long implementation cycles. Our team works with yours to get your first workstation "dolly-ready" and operational in weeks.
Continuous Innovation
You aren't just buying a machine; you’re joining a platform. As we develop new tools and smarter finishing logic, your fleet receives those updates automatically.
Why the world’s leading manufacturers trust SurfaceAI
Master-Level Finishing
SurfaceAI has the unique capability to replicate a master finisher's technique to follow complex curves—from linear block sanding to final polish—in a way traditional robots simply can’t achieve.
Flexible Part Placement
It meets the part where it sits. By eliminating the need for rigid jigs and millimeter-perfect fixturing, the system protects your floor space and slashes setup times.
Operator-Guided Control
You define the outcome, not the math. The system understands intent—sanding until a specific goal is met, like "sand until the guide coat is gone."
Zero-Downtime Software Updates
The system evolves alongside your business. We ship new capabilities via over-the-air (OTA) updates, ensuring your workstation gets smarter every shift, without requiring onsite technician visits.
Robotics in the real world
Viam and Viking Yachts Announce Robotic Sanding Partnership
Viam’s solution enables more consistent and efficient fiberglass sanding, addressing a major manufacturing challenge across marine and other sectors.
