Ascento from Zurich is seeing a rise in demand ahead of the official market launch of its security robots, which can efficiently monitor large outdoor areas. According to a company press release, the autonomous security robot guards created by the spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich are already in use at various customer facilities. These include the security firm Securitas, which has been testing the robot with the national Swiss railway company SBB.
A brief video shows the Ascento robot patrolling the site of the SBB Railway Technology Center in Hägendorf in the canton of Solothurn as part of a pilot project. Securitas tested the robots in pilot projects for several months and is now a paying customer. Security providers can rent robots by the hour. “This ‘all-included’ approach is why Securitas have been testing it for over six months now,” said Miguel de la Iglesia Valls, CTO at Ascento.
The all-weather robot can navigate rough terrain, bumps, steps and even snow with its two off-road tires. Its “head” houses the computer, battery, sensors and artificial intelligence. It is equipped with a thermal camera that detects people and vehicles, while the 360° camera captures images of the surroundings. The robot can communicate with a control center in real time via a live feed.
Ascento was officially incorporated in February 2023. According to a press release on startupticker.ch, the startup is currently ramping up production of its security robot to deliver the security solution to interested customers by the end of this year. CE certification will make it available for the mass market. The startup is also planning a seed financing round in the near future.
