From manholes to refineries: Kerala’s Genrobotics expands its robotic revolution

A startup from Kerala is changing the way dangerous jobs are performed, from the cramped city manholes to the expansive industrial pits of oil refineries.

Genrobotics, the company behind Bandicoot, the world's first robotic scavenger, is now taking its technology from sanitation to industry.

In oil refineries all over India, the company has repurposed its robots to clean desilt wells and sludge pits.

According to Senior Marketing Manager Genrobotics, Agil Ajith, "Bandicoot was introduced in 2017. The launch took place in 2018 by Narendra Modi ji in Delhi on October 2nd. The date is significant because October 2nd is Sanitation Day. From there, we began our journey, and by 2020, we were working with all the municipal corporations and other locations to give support to manual scavengers. These are the people who go down inside manholes to clean them. We gave them the Bandicoot tool to help rehabilitate not only them but also their families."

The robots have been upgraded with ATEX certification, which makes them resistant to corrosion and fire, in order to meet the strict safety requirements of refineries.

Equipped with gas sensors and high-definition cameras, the robots can be remotely operated, ensuring both safety and efficiency in confined, hazardous spaces.

He also said that, "They are collision-resistant as well as fire-resistant. The main feature is that they are equipped with gas sensors, along with four cameras which can sense and see what is happening inside. It's better than a person going inside to clean; the robot can do the job for you."

Genrobotics has launched more than 300 Bandicoot robots in 100 cities since its debut.

Additionally, the company is also branching into medical robotics, developing assistive systems to help paraplegic patients regain mobility