Taking Cleaning to New Heights and Surfaces
In the bustling robotics industry, where delivery drones dominate headlines, Lucid Bots is carving out a unique niche. Founded in 2018, this Charlotte, N.C.-based company, part of Y Combinator’s 2019 cohort, is transforming the way we approach “dirty” jobs through innovative robotic solutions.
Lucid Bots initially made waves with its Sherpa line of drones, designed to safely and efficiently clean windows on towering buildings. Now, with a fresh injection of $9.1 million in Series A funding, the company is poised to expand its robotic repertoire to tackle more labor-intensive cleaning tasks on various surfaces, reports TechCrunch.
From Windows to Flat Surfaces: The Evolution of Lucid Bots
Andrew Ashur, founder and CEO of Lucid Bots, describes the company’s mission as addressing tasks that are dull, dirty, dangerous, or demeaning—jobs that traditionally see low engagement from workers.
“We started with a very simple problem, and in pursuit of wanting to make a dangerous job safer over the years, the true problem we’re solving is this fundamental fact that people don’t want to do jobs that are considered dull, dirty, dangerous or demeaning,” Ashur explained.
Responding to customer feedback, Lucid Bots developed a new robot, the Lavo Bot. Unlike its predecessors focused solely on vertical surfaces, the Lavo Bot is equipped to clean flat surfaces such as sidewalks and driveways, thanks to its innovative design featuring wheels and adaptable cleaning tools. This development came after customers indicated a strong interest in such technology.
“We had this inverse problem where people are telling us, ‘If you build this, we will pay you for it,’” Ashur noted, highlighting the market demand for versatile cleaning drones.
Lucid Bots: A Leader in Cleaning, Not Delivering
While giants like Amazon and Google focus on delivery drones, Lucid Bots strategically positions itself in cleaning applications within urban and suburban settings, where it operates within strict regulatory frameworks. This focus allows Lucid Bots to innovate and implement its technology effectively in environments less accessible to other drone applications.
Last year, the company successfully demonstrated a proof-of-concept with two delivery drones capable of lifting a 20-pound payload and flying autonomously for about 6.2 miles. Achieving this in only four days from concept to execution, Lucid Bots showcased its agile and efficient approach to robotics development.
Financial Growth and Future Aspirations
In 2023, Lucid Bots reported revenues exceeding $3.5 million, maintaining a trajectory of exponential growth for the past three years—a trend Ashur is confident will continue. With the new funding, the company aims to enhance its portfolio of autonomous robots, scale its operations, and delve into new markets with its AI-driven software and sensor technologies.
The investment round was led by Cubit Capital, with contributions from Idea Fund Partners, Danu Venture Group, and previous investors, including Y Combinator’s Growth Fund and Gratus Capital.
Philip Carson of Cubit Capital praised Lucid Bots for its quick and cost-effective product development, stating, “Lucid Bots has pioneered a model where it costs less to build a drone domestically than it would to ship a drone from a manufacturer overseas.”
Pioneering Robotics for Old School Industries
Lucid Bots stands out in the robotics landscape not only for its revenue and growth but also for its unique data on drone operations in challenging environments. By continuously innovating and responding to market needs, Lucid Bots is set to remain a significant player in the cleaning robotics industry, proving that drones have much more to offer beyond just delivering packages.
Photos courtesy of Lucid Bots.
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