From Party Drones to Pandemic Protectors: A Robot’s Wild Pivot
When the world’s first lockdown slammed into place, Service Robotics.com found itself without a market for its flagship photograph‑robot, Eva. The business‑event machine that could roam through gatherings and snap photos had no customers, and the team faced a tough decision about how to survive.
CEO Tim Warrington recalled a pre‑pandemic chat with one of his engineers, who suggested an unexpected idea: why not use ultraviolet (UVC) light to kill viruses and bacteria? The spark led to the birth of the UVC Helios – a robot that feels like a sunbed on wheels, spraying bright, virus‑killing light across public spaces.
Why “Helios”?
The name pays homage to the sun‑god, a nod to the light‑based tech they deployed. And talk about a clever branding move!
From Concept to Real‑World Hero
- First prototype in just 14 days.
- Built a sales platform faster than a bumblebee can buzz.
- First order landed in the government of Bangladesh before they could even pick up the phone.
- Follow‑up orders went to the US military and Germany’s armed forces.
The result? The West Midlands company snagged the Artificial Intelligence Award at the National Business Awards UK, hosted by Lloyds Bank, a mere few months after launch. Judges highlighted how the team “thanked people skills, thinking outside the box, and leaned on innovation to stay ahead.”
Tim Warrington’s Take
“We had a robot that’s great at parties. But why stop there? What if we design something that actually helps people right now? I went full sci‑fi and put a sunbed on a robot – proven tech, never combined before.”
Pivoting Into a New Era
The pandemic forced a rapid pivot: from event photography to pandemic defence. Now, as lockdown eases, the company is gearing up for a second wave of transformation. New products are already on the horizon, tailored to the evolving market shaped by COVID‑19.
“UK innovation needs a boost. We can turn the COVID‑19 dust into a launchpad for stronger, smarter businesses,” Warrington said. In his words, the pandemic could be the catalyst to make British industry more resilient and productive.
Because at the end of the day, the world may have been shaken by a microscopic enemy, but the creativity and ingenuity that rose above it show the true strength of people and technology.
