Avidbots releases floor-scrubbing robot for industrial spaces

Listen to this article

Avidbots’ Neo 2W was designed to clean floors in warehouses and manufacturing environments. | Source: Avidbots

Avidbots announced the launch of the Neo 2W, a cleaning robot designed specifically for warehouses and manufacturing environments to improve cleaning quality, efficiency and productivity. 

The Neo 2W was designed in collaboration with industrial consumers to overcome the challenges that warehouses and manufacturing environments pose for robots. Warehouses can come with extra floor debris, dynamic activity and frequent layout changes. 

Avidbots’ Neo 2W has an exclusive AI and hardware configuration that helps the robots clean without human intervention. It’s also equipped with Debris Diverter, which limits the impact of debris on Neo by diverting it, protecting the wheels and reducing risks of clogs in the vacuum hose and tank. 

Neo 2W also comes with Bulk Navigator, which utilizes advanced localization algorithms that allow the robot to clean in dynamic and challenging environments, and Advanced Obstacle Detection (AOD). AOD uses machine learning capabilities to identify and avoid obstacles like pallets and forklift or pallet mover tines, on the floor.

“The release of Neo 2W comes at a timely moment when 3PL and manufacturing companies are looking for solutions that bring the highest operational efficiencies,” Faizan Sheikh, CEO and co-founder at Avidbots, said. “With the use of Neo 2W, companies are able to combat labor supply challenges and automate the time-consuming, labor-intensive task of keeping their facilities clean.”

The Neo 2W also includes industrial-strength, swappable batteries that deliver six hours of cleaning on a single charge and Home Base, which ensures Neo 2W can start and return from any location. Other standard safety features, like 3D cameras, lasers and sensors to avoid collisions, and direction-indicating safety lighting, are also included. 

“Neo 2W is the result of extensive involvement from customers based on their experiences using autonomous robots in warehouse settings. Avidbots gathered feedback, tested prototypes in real-life scenarios and utilized this data to deliver a truly purpose-built robot,” Sheikh said. “Given this robust process, we’re able to deliver even greater value to industrial customers. For instance, the focused solution delivers more cleaning productivity – up to 42,000 square feet per hour – due to Neo 2W’s unique ability to maneuver in challenging warehouse environments.”

In September 2022, Avidbots brought in $70 million in a Series C funding round, which it planned to use the round of funding to expand its fleet of robots and enhance its autonomy software. The company’s flagship robot Neo 2 is an autonomous robot floor scrubber. The robot can help clean businesses, airports, schools and warehouses. 

Avidbots has raised $107 million to date and currently has more than 1,000 robots deployed in more than a dozen countries throughout North America, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Europe. Along with the funding, Avidbots announced that it has doubled down on its investment in Kitchener-Waterloo by securing additional space to support R&D and testing.