Skyline Robotics is revolutionizing the age-old practice of window washing with its cutting-edge technology, aiming to reshape a risky industry. The startup’s innovative window-washing robot, Ozmo, has already become operational in Tel Aviv and New York, cleaning duties for prominent skyscrapers like 10 Hudson Yards, 383 Madison, 825 3rd Avenue, and 7 World Trade Center.
In partnership with the city’s leading commercial window cleaner, Platinum, and real estate giant, The Durst Organization, Ozmo is making its mark. The robot is suspended from tall buildings, utilizing a robotic arm equipped with a brush to clean windows. Guided by a LiDAR camera using laser technology for 3D mapping, Ozmo navigates its cleaning path. This camera scans the building’s exterior and defines window parameters.
“What the LiDAR is actually doing as the basket is descending is sort of painting itself a picture of the facade that it’s facing,” President and Chief Operating Officer Ross Blum said. “That person, other than regulation, doesn’t actually have to be there for our sake.” He said, “We could, in theory, remote-control Ozmo from different parts of the world.” Although currently supervised by a human operator atop the building, Blum envisions Ozmo being remotely operated, transcending geographical constraints.
With a price tag of around $500,000, the Ozmo promises building owners a return on investment within three to five years, according to James Halpin, Platinum CEO and Skyline Robotics board member. “Currently, we are experiencing a labor shortage in all real blue-collar fields in New York City,” Halpin said. “We could hire another 20% just to keep up with the current work that we have at this point.”
Ozmo represents a new era of technology replicating human tasks. Window washing, seen as a “medium” automation-susceptible task (30% to 70%), is transforming. A labor shortage in high-rise window washing, such as in New York City, has sparked interest in Platinum. The company’s goal, shared by Skyline Robotics, is to “retrain and reassign” window washers to manage the technology. However, concerns arise regarding the impact on the workforce. As futurists explore human-robot collaboration, the Ozmo’s ability to assume perilous tasks garners attention. Aleksandra Przegalińska from Harvard’s Labor and Worklife Program applauds the shift away from dangerous fields.
Skyline Robotics has invested years developing Ozmo, raising $12.9 million, including $6.5 million in pre-Series A funding and support from the Israeli government. With its recent $3.35 million funding round, the company is poised to transform the window-washing landscape further.
