Bright Machines, Inc. is nearing a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company to go public in a deal that would value the manufacturing-automation business at about $1.6 billion, according to people familiar with the matter. The creator of a platform that uses artificial intelligence and robotics to automate tasks in electronics manufacturing, Bright Machines is close to a deal with SCVX Corp. (NYSE:SCVX), the people said. The merger could be announced as soon as this week.