Avidbots Introduces KAS: A Compact Cleaning Robot Expanding into Fresh Markets

Avidbots, headquartered in Kitchener-Waterloo, has unveiled Kas, a new addition to its range of fully autonomous floor scrubbing robots. Unlike the bulkier Neo robot optimized for cleaning expansive areas such as warehouses, Kas features a slimmer profile and enhanced maneuverability with a tighter turning radius. These design enhancements enable Kas to efficiently navigate around obstacles, people, and confined spaces typically encountered in retail, transportation, healthcare, and education sectors.

Faizan Sheikh, co-founder and CEO of Avidbots, highlighted the significance of automation adoption in the retail sector and expressed excitement about supporting the industry’s automation objectives with Kas. Faizan Sheikh, the co-founder and CEO of Avidbots, emphasized that customers are actively seeking solutions that streamline cleaning processes, elevate the image of their establishments, and empower their teams to concentrate on more strategic tasks. Avidbots and its newest addition, Kas, are ideally positioned to address these needs, offering innovative technologies and capabilities that excel in meeting these critical requirements.

Richard King, the manager of a Canadian Tire store in Welland, Ontario, commended Kas for its remarkable cleaning performance while seamlessly navigating through the store’s ever-changing environment without causing any disruption to customers. Pablo Molina, the co-founder, CTO, and vice president of product at Avidbots, highlighted that Kas is the result of extensive research and development efforts. It incorporates the most recent iteration of the company’s proprietary AI software, sophisticated sensor systems designed for obstacle avoidance, and an impressive battery life exceeding three hours on a single charge.

Founded in 2014 by Faizan Sheikh and Pablo Molina, both University of Waterloo engineering students at the time, Avidbots has raised $107 million USD in funding to date from investors such as Kensington Capital Partners, Real Ventures, BDC Capital, BMO Capital Partners, and Jeneration Capital.Despite experiencing a round of layoffs affecting approximately 14 percent of its global workforce in March 2023, Avidbots remains steadfast in its commitment to revolutionizing the cleaning industry with its autonomous solutions. The company’s dedication to its vision is evident through its recent achievements, including securing a $70 million USD Series C round in September 2022. This substantial investment is earmarked for expanding its fleet and bolstering its marketing efforts, underscoring Avidbots’ determination to drive innovation and growth in the autonomous cleaning sector.

Avidbots provides a comprehensive range of robotic cleaning solutions, consisting of Neo, Neo 2W, and Kas. These robots can be seamlessly integrated and operated in unison through the Avidbots Command Center software solution. This centralized platform empowers customers with robust features such as reporting, analytics, and real-time monitoring, enabling them to streamline and enhance their cleaning operations efficiently.

The Avidbots Command Center empowers users with comprehensive visibility into cleaning operations, enabling them to monitor robot activities, assess cleaning performance, and make data-driven decisions. With this centralized platform, users can track key metrics, such as cleaning frequency and coverage, to ensure optimal productivity and effectiveness throughout their facilities. By leveraging actionable insights provided by the Command Center, users can proactively manage cleaning schedules, address potential issues, and continuously improve cleaning workflows to meet evolving needs and standards.