KOCHI: Kerala startup Genrobotics says it plans to unveil five more ‘Bandicoot’ robots for cleaning sewer holes, including for pilot projects in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, after garnering a tremendous response to its innovative idea of using robots for the task and potentially eliminating the age-old practice of manual scavenging.The startup was among the participants of the two-day Huddle Kerala conclave, which concluded at Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday.Founded in 2015, GenRobotics specializes in powered exoskeletons and human-controlled robotic systems.Sharjah Digital Transformation Higher Committee chairman Sheikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, who was the chief guest at the inaugural event on Friday, was among the visitors to the Genrobotics stall.The founders, engineering graduates Arun George, Vimal Govind, N.P. Nikhil and Ashiq, said they had received several enquiries from the UAE, and hoped that their brief meeting with Sheikh Fahim would open doors to present their product in Sharjah.Genrobotics launched the world’s first manhole cleaning robot ‘Bandicoot’ in Thiruvananthapuram on an experimental basis in February this year. The robot has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules.Meanwhile, Genrobotics has received an invitation to present “Bandicoot” in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Of the five new robots, one each will be used in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka for pilot projects, two will go to kerala Water Authority (KWA) and one will be used by the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), the founders said.Apart from the Kerala Financial Corporation (KFC), Genrobotics is getting funds from venture capitalist Unicorn India Ventures for the production of the robots.

Source: Economic Times April 07, 2018 13:52 UTC