Before embarking on developing a robot for a specific application, it's crucial to specify its requirements to ensure that the end result meets your expectations. This includes the tasks you want the robot to perform, the environment it’ll be operating in, or the type of terrain it will be traversing. This information will help you define the technical requirements for your robot. But how to know what they are? Read on to find out :).

Share your idea with us

The first step to go about finding out what you need is to contact us and tell us about your idea. While you may assume that perhaps you’ll need a larger rover or one with more speed and battery life, etc. (that's something we get a lot of questions about), it often turns out, as you walk us through your concept, that what you really need isn’t a bigger or faster robot but a more specialized solution. There are some key things we’d like to know from the get-go to have a basic sense of your requirements:

• Application: It’s important to us what the plan for the use of the robot is. Knowing this, and also based on our experience, we’re able to project what’s feasible and what’s a no-go. If the stock Leo Rover isn’t suitable for your application, we can propose either adapting the rover to it or creating something new, depending on the project.
• Budget: Another key information for us is knowing how much budget is to be put into the application development. Estimating funds for a project implementation can be a challenge, especially when it involves a robot application that hasn’t been done before. In such cases, we usually quote the rover and its adaptation to the proof of concept. Naturally, as the development progresses, the robot becomes more fine-tuned and reliable which leads to cost savings.
• Time: Also, we need to know your expected deadline so that we have a basic idea of what can be done within a given time-frame. We can quote the time for a custom project but let’s be honest – very often, the time can’t be shortened. Paying us twice as much won’t make the project time twice as short. That’s not how it works. Custom projects can’t be rushed – they call for developing solutions by trial and error to end up with reliable results. And know that we’re committed to delivering the best results possible to ensure optimal performance ;).

Test your solutions to know what your project calls for

So, how do you figure out what kind of robot your application actually needs? Although you may have some requirements at the beginning, testing different solutions under real-world conditions is an essential part of robotics. The robot itself, before any adjustments, can provide valuable insights that will help you pin down your final requirements.

Take FLOX, for example, a technology company that implements AI in animal farming. FLOX has been using their Leo Rover mobile robot as a prototype in poultry farms to monitor and improve the living conditions of the chickens there. See the video below:

Also, check out this article to learn much more about this custom project. 

Ok, but back to the point. First, FLOX purchased a Leo Rover from us and started tinkering with it. Having tested various solutions on the robot, the company eventually hit the wall and reached out to us again to help them push the project forward. And that’s how our involvement in this project began.

For almost two years now, we’ve been collaborating with FLOX to develop and test solutions that meet their specific needs and deliver the desired results. Our approach also involved interviewing the end customers, in this case, farmers, to ensure we understood from our perspective their requirements and could implement them effectively.

What applications is Leo Rover for?

With its modifiable, sturdy, and watertight construction, the Leo Rover robotic platform is an excellent choice for a wide range of applications. It does have its limits, though, so it’s important to note there are kinds of usage where it may not be the best fit. We’re talking applications that require round-the-clock robot performance or extreme precision like sapper operation. 

What can the Leo Rover be used for, then? First and foremost, the robot is excellent for getting your feet wet in robotics and creating a proof of concept (among many other things), as this robotic platform is built to be modified and adapted to meet specific needs. Hence, it can be a great prototype for testing various solutions, just as it was in this project. Check it out!

We’ll help you develop your project

Want help with developing your project and making the robot application you’re thinking of a reality? Make sure to send us a message at contact@fictionlab.pl to learn more about how a Leo Rover can be tailored to your application. By letting us help you, you can be confident that you’re in good hands and your project is on the right track.

And don’t worry if you’re not a robotics pro. Don’t hesitate to write to us if you don’t know how to approach a given subject. We’re here to help answer any questions you may have and guide you :).