The Security Essen As the security industry’s most important event, it is the highlight of every fall trade show season and, in 2022, once again demonstrated the immense significance of this multi-day trade show. As a driver of innovation in the field of networked robotic systems, it was therefore not a question of whether, but rather how, we would present our portfolio in the Ruhr metropolis.
Supported by BMWK, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, our startup was part of the joint presentation by “Young Innovative Companies”—the ideal setting to showcase our portfolio of 4 Product Solutions: wheeled patrol robot ARGUS, Drone System BEEHIVE, four-legged walking robots of the following models SPOT and Go1, as well as the reception and communication model PROMOBOT to present them in the best possible way and in a clearly visible manner.
When discussing mobile systems, it goes without saying that we need to show them in action—that is, rather than presenting theoretical information and static exhibits, we need to demonstrate their mobility live with the robots at the booth and on short tours through the halls. Thanks to the automatic charging stations for each model, we had robots ready for full operation throughout the entire trade show and were thus able, for example, to take them on excursions to other areas of the exhibition grounds.
“Connected robotics and AI are your future.”
Just how important this was became clear as early as Day 1 of the trade show, which was Training and Continuing Education Day was dedicated to a specific topic. Organized by the BDSW, the Federal Association of the Security Industry, and under the patronage of the Federal Minister of Education and Research, Ms. Bettina Stark-Watzinger, Member of the German Bundestag, the event not only honored the top apprentices for their achievements but also focused on developments in the industry. Our CEO, Aleksej Tokarev, gave a presentation together with Prof. Dr. Andre Röhl from the NBS Northern Business School On the topic of: “Ironman is a thing of the past. How robots can truly support work in the security industry—and the opportunities they offer.” in front of hundreds of attendees in a hall packed to capacity, and captured everyone’s rapt attention—thanks in part to the vividly presented robots, which we, of course, guided all the way across the entire trade show floor and up onto the stage.
The fact that such a presentation serves merely as a starting point, encourages critical thinking, and struck a chord with the audience was evident from the very lively discussion that followed. The multitude of questions showed that even the trainees are already aware of the need for increased use of technology. Consequently, everyone present discussed not whether, but how—and through which application scenarios—demographic change can be addressed. All participants actively took part in the quiz following the presentation, and the best and fastest participants were also rewarded with valuable prizes. We would like to take this opportunity to once again say THANK YOU to Mr. Martin Hildebrandt and Mr. Frank Schimmel from the BDSW, as well as Prof. Dr. Röhl from the NBS, for the successful organization and execution of the Training and Continuing Education Day.
We believe it is the right approach to involve young people in particular in these issues, since they are the ones who will use their energy, knowledge, and digital technology in the coming years to overcome the challenges of the future.
At the trade show booth and omnipresent in the media
But what was the situation like at the booth itself? Shortly after the doors opened, the first curious visitors began arriving in Hall 5, and even though we were there with a limited setup at times, this did nothing to dampen their interest. In addition to exhibitors and trade visitors, it was primarily the press that gathered there during those days. Sat.1NRW, the Rheinische Post, N-TV, representatives of various specialized publishers such as VDI News, Schlütersche, Wiley, security blogs, and others came to us to learn about the latest developments and got up close and personal with the robots. There was filming, photography, live streaming, and reporting. We’re happy to engage with this attention and respond to interview requests; true to our slogan “We’re leading the way!”, we want to use our expertise to help people better understand digitized, networked security solutions.
Because we’re stronger together—partnerships in action
We carry out challenging projects in close collaboration with our strong partners, so it was only natural for us to demonstrate our joint capabilities at security Essen. As an example of this, we showcased at the booth of the Dussmann Group We showcased mobile solutions and explained their wide range of applications, and met with representatives from the CIBORIUS Group met for project discussions and defined specific training objectives between the NBS and the Security Robotics Academy or discussed innovative developments with the Swiss startup Ascento Robotics. This close collaboration, constructive feedback, and agile project management are crucial to playing a pioneering role in the emerging market for mobile robotic solutions.
“Our vision is to revolutionize the security sector by connecting technology, people, and robotics.”
In addition to all the scheduled events and activities, it was above all the sheer volume of specific technical questions, the interest in technology, and the ideas for new applications and forms of cooperation that confirmed to us that we are taking the right approach in the market.
We reported on the highly exciting integration of video towers, perimeter sensors, and our autonomous drone systems—a security approach that generated a great deal of interest and will soon be followed by the first live projects.
We also received keen interest from the industrial sector, which faces challenges in the maintenance field and can use robotic systems to address issues such as preventive fire protection. We presented our solutions for reliable, automated, and loggable visual inspections, meter readings, and the detection of heat sources, gas leaks, and radiation leaks, among other applications, and encountered an enormous demand.
Our colleagues spent the entire day at the booth and in the exhibition halls engaged in technical discussions, explaining the potential applications of mobile robots and the advantages of the fully integrated ACUDA Software Platform, and provided specific advice to trade visitors, potential customers, and partners regarding their individual use cases. Because ideas are born from collaboration, these in-depth conversations opened up new avenues of thought and industries for us.
The fact that our groundwork has not been in vain and that our media reach as a startup is already considerable was also evident in the fact that several entrepreneurs made the trip to Essen specifically to see us, eager to meet the team and learn about our mobile robotic solutions. And prominent political figures, namely State Secretary Daniela Lesmeister from the Ministry of the Interior of North Rhine-Westphalia visited our booth with a delegation.
On the last day of the trade show, there was a special encounter: our SPOT unexpectedly ran into one of its own kind. Watching the two robots interact was a highlight for all visitors, and for us, it was a welcome opportunity to talk with other users of the model from Boston Dynamics to step on.
Conclusion:
Our innovative technology attracted attention. And even though some visitors initially stopped only because they were fascinated by the elegant movement of the SPOT walking robot, every conversation and exchange that ensued confirmed that there was a enormous demand for networked security technology involving autonomous systems. We received many very specific project requirements from end customers across a wide range of industries. For Service Providers So it will be It’s high time to address the issue immediately and very thoroughly Topic: Robotics to address in order to meet the new technical requirements of a request for proposals. The Support from Subject Matter Experts and, for example, trained concept teams will be responsible for the decisive advantage …because hesitating now means we’ll have to exit the project business in a few years.
Exciting weeks lie ahead for Security Robotics following the Essen trade show: taking feedback into account, responding to inquiries, holding concrete discussions, and initiatingprojects with end customers in the top industries —the automotive and supplier industries, energy producers and critical infrastructure,the chemical and manufacturing industries , and so on.
In one sentence? The time is ripe for connected, fully digital solutions!