We learned recently from the folks at Avidbots that they’re developing ROS-based commercial cleaning robots. Here’s their story:

Billions of square feet of commercial floor space are cleaned nightly in the US. Avidbots automates the most time-intensive tasks of retail and storehouse cleaning: sweeping and scrubbing of floors. Powered by ROS, these robots automatically clean floors in grocery stores, airports, and malls, enabling cleaning staff to concentrate on higher value tasks such as window cleaning, dusting, and polishing. The end result? Staff who are better-paid and more productive — a clean win for everyone.

While developing these robots, Avidbots must iterate rapidly through designs. Two key facilitators of this fast development cycle are ROS and Gazebo. ROS’s communication system promotes a simple modular design, while Gazebo provides for accurate simulation testing. Modular software design and thorough simulation testing enable Avidbots to achieve its rapid development goals. This strategic use of ROS and Gazebo is significantly accelerating Avidbots’ entry into the robotic services space.