Highlights:
• The investment by Zoho will enable the company
• To expand its manufacturing capabilities, reducing manual scavenging in India
On May 25, Zoho Corporation announced that it had invested Rs 20 crore in Genrobotics, a robotics startup backed by Anand Mahindra. Zoho is one of the first software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies in the country. It will use its reserves to fund the investment.
Genrobotics makes robotic scavengers and has investors such as Unicorn India Venture, SEA Group, and others. This investment will enable Genrobotics to expand its manufacturing capabilities, reducing the need for manual scavenging in India. “In the sanitation and oil and gas industries, robotic scavenging provides workers with safety and dignity,” Zoho said.
World’s first robotic scavenger
The Bandicoot robot, which Genrobotics claims to be the world’s first robotic scavenger, was launched in 2017 by Vimal Govind, Arun George, Rashid K, and Nikhil NP. In refineries, the Bandicoot robot assists in the cleaning of confined spaces such as sewer manholes, sewer wells, storm water manholes, oily water sewers (OWS), and storm water sewers (SWS).
Bandicoot robots use their legs, various sensors, and cameras to enter manholes, move around, and gain stability in various terrains, and are designed to mimic human movements with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). Its multipurpose robotic arm can perform tasks like shovelling, grabbing, picking, and water-jet positioning, all of which are required for various cleaning tasks.
The robots are equipped with a sensor that detects poisonous gases as well as four specially designed IP68 night vision cameras that provide visuals of the confined space through a user interface that is safely located above the manhole, allowing sanitation workers to do their jobs safely and efficiently.
Make in India initiative
Genrobotics recently entered the healthcare industry with the launch of G Gaiter, a robot-assisted gait training solution designed to improve rehabilitation experiences for people with paraplegia. Genrobotics claims that its world’s first robotic scavenger, products are designed and manufacturered in india as part of the Make in India initiative.
“One of Zoho’s top priorities is to nurture a thriving deep-tech ecosystem in India, and the investment in Genrobotics is a continuation of that commitment,” said Sridhar Vembu, CEO and co-founder of Zoho Corp.
