Ava Robotics Powers Johnson Controls New Tyco Security Robot

Johnson Controls International has chosen Ava Robotics Inc. to power its new Tyco Security Robot. Tyco debuted the robot yesterday in the Tyco Demo Room & Innovation Center at the Global Security Exchange (GSX) Conference in Orlando, Fla.

"Ava's mobile, autonomous, and innovative robotics technology helped close the loop of solutions we needed to increase and streamline security operations," said Jason Ouellette, director of technology and business innovation at Johnson Controls. "The robots observe, monitor, and notify staff so they can focus more on taking the right action in real time."

Based on iRobot's technical heritage, Ava Robotics has designed and developed autonomous mobile robots for telepresence, disinfection, and workplace monitoring. The Cambridge, Mass.-based company is a member of MassRobotics, an organization devoted to growing the Massachusetts robotics ecosystem.

With a history of more than 135 years of innovation, Johnson Controls serves industries such as healthcare, hospitality, education, and manufacturing through its OpenBlue digital offering. With a global team of 100,000 experts in more than 150 countries, the Cork, Ireland-based company offers building technology, software, and services.

Robot to streamline security operations

In order to better address evolving security and facility monitoring needs, businesses are identifying opportunities to streamline operations, maximize staffing, and automate processes.

Tyco Security Robot. Source: Ava Robotics

The companies said they took a unified approach to solving workplace challenges, including building security needs. The fully autonomous robot combines access-control, video surveillance, and security functions.

The Tyco Security Robot can provide enhanced deterrence and high-quality evidence for investigations, managing repeatable security tasks and enabling security personnel to focus on high-value activities, said Ava Robotics.

This combination of mobile robots with existing reporting practices and historical trend analysis can improve the security posture of organizations by uncovering gaps, driving behavioral change, and providing data to drive business decisions, said the partners.

Tyco Security Robot features

The Tyco Security Robot includes sensors and touchscreen. It also integrates two Tyco Illustra cameras to streamline security operations and increase operational efficiency, according to Ava Robotics and Johnson Controls. The robot provides the following information:

• People detection to determine when people are present at unexpected times or locations
• Incident prevention to limit potentially harmful incidents and minimize negative or dangerous interactions
• Monitoring and management for faster reaction to incidents, review incidents remotely, monitor critical equipment, and ensure safety is maintained across operations
• Comprehensive security coverage by increasing security patrols and establishing an enhanced physical presence that augments existing monitoring
• Operations beyond traditional security, such as the ability to run routine safety inspections on equipment and critical infrastructure across operations and receive sensor data

"With the current growth and expansion of robots in the workplace, Ava's work with Johnson Controls serves as another example of applying intelligent, mobile technology to drive better business outcomes and satisfaction," said Marcio Macedo, co-founder and vice president of products at Ava Robotics. "There is growing need for facility-focused robots outside of warehouse robots, and building and operational security is a smart place to focus on."

"This maps to our strategy to uncover unmet needs in the workplace, especially those that can be solved through robotics and automation," Macedo said.

"Taking a smarter, more efficient, and purposeful approach to workplace security is a crucial part of building and facility management and overall business operations," said Osvaldo San Martin, vice president and general manager at Johnson Controls Security Products. "The more we can effect better and safer outcomes with automated, sustainable solutions like the Security Robot, the better the work environment becomes for people."