Israeli Robotics Firm RealSense to Be Acquired by Cognex for $600 Million

Israeli robotics company RealSense, which was spun off from Intel just 14 months ago, is set to be acquired by American computer vision leader Cognex for approximately $600 million in cash and stock. The deal is expected to establish RealSense's Israeli operations as Cognex's development hub for robotics and physical artificial intelligence.

RealSense specializes in depth-sensing cameras and computer vision technologies that enable robots and autonomous systems to perceive their environment, navigate, and operate independently. Their solutions allow machines to understand 3D space, identify objects, and track movements in real-time, finding applications in industry, robotics, autonomous systems, and AI.

Cognex, a company with around 3,000 employees and annual sales nearing $1 billion, plans to integrate RealSense's depth-perception technology with its own computer vision capabilities to expand its reach in robotics and physical AI. The acquisition is anticipated to make RealSense's Israeli presence a central part of Cognex's future development in these fields.

RealSense was separated from Intel as part of a corporate restructuring, with Intel Capital and other private investors injecting $50 million to establish it as an independent entity. Since then, the company, which employs about 180 people, with 135 in Israel, has experienced significant growth, tripling its revenue and achieving profitability in the last two quarters. It projects revenues of $80-90 million for 2026.

The acquisition agreement includes roughly $500 million in cash and approximately $106 million in stock grants, cash, and options for RealSense employees. The company stated that most of its Israeli employees are expected to receive at least one million shekels (approximately $270,000) each as part of the deal.