Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SPANAR (Safe Perception And Navigation for Autonomous Robots)
Reporting period: 2019-12-01 to 2020-03-31
Current robot technology is highly sophisticated and mobile robots are capable of carrying out a large plurality of different tasks autonomously, like autonomous floor mopping, autonomous inspection of chemical tanks and autonomous surveillance. However, to implement mobile robots in an industrial setting, the robot navigation should be safe in the presence of humans, other robots and cars. Currently, the only autonomous navigation systems for mobile robots that are safety-certified are based on LiDar. The high price of LiDar technology is one of the main hurdles for the large-scale uptake of mobile robots across industries, as well as the limited environments in which it can be used. For this reason, Avular started developing a radar- and stereovision-based navigation system at a much lower price than LiDar-based alternatives. Avular strongly believes that this system can be safety certified in the future. Society will benefit from this technology, because it allows dangerous or repetitive tasks to be automated. This saves the high costs for manual labor and is safer for employees.
The goal of this VAP was to assess the viability of this business opportunity and the objectives were mainly to conduct market research, to get insight into the safety certification process and to develop an IP-strategy. At the end of the project, Avular concluded that SPANAR is a viable business idea and that many potential customers showed interest in the product.
The goal of this VAP was to assess the viability of this business opportunity and the objectives were mainly to conduct market research, to get insight into the safety certification process and to develop an IP-strategy. At the end of the project, Avular concluded that SPANAR is a viable business idea and that many potential customers showed interest in the product.
Using well known market research techniques, Avular mapped the potential target markets and client segments for this product. Based on the results, one market was selected for the product launch of SPANAR. After a market share in this market will be secured, the target markets can be expanded to three other markets in which Avular is interested. Additionally, Avular selected the first geographical regions to offer the product. In this decision, the ease of trade was one of the most important factors. The market research resulted in a confidential market research report that forms the basis for decisions on market selection. Other important results from the market research concern a competitor analysis, and an estimation of the TAM, SAM and SOM for this product. Additionally, Avular has been in contact with multiple potential customers for SPANAR to get a better understanding of their needs and willingness to pay for the solution.
On the topic of safety certification Avular has been in contact with the TÜV certification body. The most important result was insight into certification procedures. Avular found out that the most sensible route to obtain safety certification for SPANAR is to design, document and test the system according to a specific safety standard and for safety functions it may perform in the most promising business cases. Since specific aspects of functional safety should already be integrated in the design and development phase of the product, Avular started directly with gathering functional safety requirements that should be taken into account in the current development phase.
Avular used the results from this VAP to update the envisioned business model. Additionally, this VAP resulted in the following confidential documents: a market research report, an IP-strategy, a safety certification plan, a product development plan that includes an oversight of the complete value chain and a commercialization strategy. All of these reports are currently exploited by Avular in the further development of the product and to identify new potential clients or partners.
On the topic of safety certification Avular has been in contact with the TÜV certification body. The most important result was insight into certification procedures. Avular found out that the most sensible route to obtain safety certification for SPANAR is to design, document and test the system according to a specific safety standard and for safety functions it may perform in the most promising business cases. Since specific aspects of functional safety should already be integrated in the design and development phase of the product, Avular started directly with gathering functional safety requirements that should be taken into account in the current development phase.
Avular used the results from this VAP to update the envisioned business model. Additionally, this VAP resulted in the following confidential documents: a market research report, an IP-strategy, a safety certification plan, a product development plan that includes an oversight of the complete value chain and a commercialization strategy. All of these reports are currently exploited by Avular in the further development of the product and to identify new potential clients or partners.
SPANAR progresses beyond the state of the art, because it combines two complementary sensory techniques that compensate for each other's flaws. Therefore, a sensor fusion approach that uses them both can result in a safe perception system that can be used for navigation purposes. An approach that does not exist for mobile robots yet. Similar approaches are known in the driverless car industry, but these solutions are not directly compatible with mobile robots. In the field of mobile robotics, many navigation solutions require infrastructure or are specifically adapted for one single use case, which makes them unsuitable for application in in other settings. The only existing solution that is safe and can be used in many settings is LiDar, but this technique is (extremely) expensive.
With a low price, guaranteed safety and a range of application possibilities, the envisioned product has the potential to disrupt the mobile robotics market. Offering a safe navigation solution at a much lower price than the current alternatives will enable the adoption of mobile robotics across industries. In practice, this means that dangerous and repetitive work can be automated. Employees no longer have to risk their lives, while entering mines, chemical tanks or industrial chimneys for inspection purposes and cleaning staff doesn't need to mop the same floor over and over again. These are big gains from a wellbeing and safety point of view. Additionally, automating these tasks is a cost-effective solution for companies that have high salary costs. When the target market will be expanded both internationally and to other industries, this impact can be enormous.
With a low price, guaranteed safety and a range of application possibilities, the envisioned product has the potential to disrupt the mobile robotics market. Offering a safe navigation solution at a much lower price than the current alternatives will enable the adoption of mobile robotics across industries. In practice, this means that dangerous and repetitive work can be automated. Employees no longer have to risk their lives, while entering mines, chemical tanks or industrial chimneys for inspection purposes and cleaning staff doesn't need to mop the same floor over and over again. These are big gains from a wellbeing and safety point of view. Additionally, automating these tasks is a cost-effective solution for companies that have high salary costs. When the target market will be expanded both internationally and to other industries, this impact can be enormous.