More service robots are coming to North America. SoftBank Robotics America and Gausium today announced that they have partnered to deploy indoor automated cleaning and service systems in the U.S. market. The partners said they will focus on helping companies successfully adopt, integrate, and scale robot operations.
“SBRA [SoftBank Robotics America] is the right partner to bring our products to market throughout the U.S.,” said Allen Zhang, chief of overseas business of Gausium. “Their holistic customer support continues after the point of sale and ensures all adopters are receiving the expected return on experience and investment when utilizing our robots.”
Founded in 2013, Gausium, also known as Gaussian Robotics, built its autonomous navigation system based on simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) technology. The Shanghai, China-based company integrated its artificial intelligence into cleaning machines in 2017. It raised $188 million in Series C funding in November 2021.
Gausium’s products and services now include commercial floor-cleaning robots; indoor delivery robots; and accessories such as docking stations, a cloud platform, and application software. It said its robots can alleviate menial and repetitive tasks so employees can focus on higher-value responsibilities. This can boost efficiency, improve employee and customer satisfaction, streamline operations, and reduce employee turnover, the company said.
Gausium develops X1 food server
X1 is an autonomous food-service system for the hospitality industry launched in 2021. It is equipped with three serving trays that can hold up to 30 kg (66.1 lb.), said Gausium.
The mobile robot's collision-free and spill-proof technology allows it to run food and beverages to several tables at a time. The X1 can chart the most efficient path to tables or back to the kitchen while navigating around customers, employees, furniture, and other robots, Gausium said.
The robot’s advanced shock-mitigation mechanisms ensure a smooth and stable delivery experience of drinks or liquid dishes, claimed the company. In addition, X1 can help servers more efficiently bus tables so they can spend more time with customers and turn over tables quicker, it noted.
Gausium and SoftBank Robotics have successfully deployed the first fleet of X1 robots to The Hall On The Yard, a 12,250-sq.-ft., full-service food hall featuring nine restaurants in Orlando, Fla.
Partners clean up with growing fleet
Gausium recently introduced the Phantas cleaning product line, expanding its service robot portfolio. It now consists of the Vacuum 40, Scrubber 50, Scrubber 75, and Sweeper 111 systems.
By 2021, the cleaning robots were deployed in over 40 countries across six continents, according to Gausium. The company said it has thousands of satisfied customers, with millions of autonomous operational hours accrued and billions of square meters covered.
Gausium said its X1 and the Scrubber 50 Pro (S50) are its first two products designed to support companies struggling with labor shortages or transforming how work is done.
Following the successful commercialization of its Whiz autonomous vacuum cleaner, SoftBank Robotics said it is expanding its portfolio of cleaning robots. The San Francisco-based company added that it is deepening its commitment to a smarter, cleaner, and healthier environment with the introduction of the S50 Pro.
SoftBank Robotics looks past adoption
“Gausium’s technology is at the forefront of commercial service robots,” stated Brady Watkins, president of SoftBank Robotics America. “Their products are smart, safe, and simple, enabling customers to easily adopt them into their businesses.”
“To truly solve the labor shortage many industries are facing, we are helping companies go beyond adoption and focus on the integration and scaling of their technology to maximize the value our solutions offer,” he added.
SoftBank Robotics America is the North American arm of SoftBank Robotics Group Corp. Tokyo-based SoftBank Robotics has other offices in Boston, London, Paris, Hamburg, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Singapore, Sydney, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.
Last month, SoftBank Robotics Group transferred SoftBank Robotics Europe to United Robotics Group. The unit's name reverted to Aldebaran Robotics, and it planned to continue supporting the Nao and Pepper humanoids.
SBRA said it is exploring and commercializing robots to help make people's lives easier, safer, and more connected. SoftBank Robotics' systems are used in more than 70 countries worldwide in retail, tourism, healthcare, finance, education, facilities management, cleaning, warehousing, and logistics.
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