The Robot Sweeper That’s Also Your Security Guard
Viabot, a Santa Clara company, has raised $24 million in Series A funding led by Walden International, bringing its total funding to $43 million. Its flagship product, the Viabot One, is an autonomous outdoor sweeping robot that also provides "soft security" through its navigation sensors.
This robot doesn’t just sweep debris from large commercial properties; it also detects loitering and trespassing across various locations, including retail parks, campuses, and hospital grounds. According to Viabot, human staff monitor alerts generated by the robot around the clock. While Keep America Beautiful reports a 34% reduction in litter since 2020, Viabot frames its technology as a solution to a problem that appears to have been mitigated.
Key Features:
- Sensor Suite: The Viabot One uses cameras, lidar, depth sensors, differential GPS, and dynamic path planning for navigation and 3D mapping.
- Robotics-as-a-Service: Instead of selling the robot as equipment, Viabot offers it as a service.
- Dual Functionality: While its primary function is sweeping, the robot also acts as a surveillance platform with 24/7 monitoring capabilities.
Viabot’s Soft Security Model:
- The robot detects unusual activity, like loitering or trespassing, in restricted areas.
- Alerts are monitored by human personnel who respond accordingly.
Competitive Landscape:
While Viabot positions itself as a novel solution for property care, robots with surveillance capabilities are not entirely new. TNW has previously reported on
Ascento’s guard robot
and Samsung’s transformation of a robot vacuum into a home monitoring device.
What sets Viabot apart is its marketing strategy, selling sweeping services while incidentally providing security monitoring. However, the continuous "always-on" nature of its security claims may be a stretch, as the robot itself operates for only up to six hours before returning to its dock.