An Israeli company SkyBot Ltd.is offering a technological solution for the efficiently and
environmentally friendly cost effective cleaning of windows and exterior surfaces of
skyscrapers. The solution offered is a robot based on patented technology.
The company's claims include "eliminating the high costs, high risk and low efficiency
faced by the window cleaning industry". The first SkyBot can be seen by Tel-Avivians as it
cleans the exterior of one of the city's burgeoning skyscrapers. The robot is claimed to
work 30 times faster, if the same job is carried out manually. It is said to reduce the cost of
cleaning by 90%.
The two year old company was founded in Israel. The company maintains a "green" policy
and its robot eliminates the need for the use of detergents and other chemicals.
SkyBot uses computer vision optics which constantly monitor the glass surface of the
area to be cleaned. The resulting images undergo an advanced processing technique
based on algorithms for artificial vision. An analysis of these images allows the SkyBot
computer to verify that the surface is clean and returns a "go-no-go" command which
instructs the robot to advance to the next window surface. SkyBot also is equipped with
sensors which act as safety mechanisms which can locate obstacles such as open
windows.