Robot JENS goes where officers can't follow

Fire, smoke, and toxic gases — emergency services regularly have to deal with dangerous or challenging conditions. How valuable is it then when a robot, specially designed for a specific situation, can provide support? Sita Robotics develops robust, smart robots that make the work of firefighters, police, and the military safer and more efficient. The focus for this year is clear: “We are busy with robot JENS, for use in hard-to-reach areas,” says founder and CEO Danny Hameeteman.

Whether it's the police, fire department, or military, there are never enough hands. But in addition to personnel, something else is needed to be able to work in a future-oriented way: technology. That's where Sita Robotics comes in. Founded three years ago in Eindhoven, the company develops compact, maneuverable robots that support emergency services in places that are difficult for people to reach. In other words, in dangerous situations or in confined spaces, the robots provide eyes, ears, and sometimes even hands where they would normally be lacking.

Throwing robots: for the military and fire department

Take SAM, for example: a robot specially designed for throwing. “We developed this for the fire department,” says Hameeteman. The robot, equipped with sensors, can be thrown into a building to assess the situation, for example, during a fire, without a firefighter having to go in immediately. “That way, we protect lives.”

And then there is the two-wheeled SPEAR: the first throwing robot developed for defense.

Robot JENS in development

Sita Robotics is launching a completely new design of the JENS this year. Crawl spaces, under vehicles: these are difficult places for the police to reach. However, robot JENS has no problem with that. It is small and moves on four wheels.

“This year, we are focusing entirely on getting JENS ready and scaling it up,” explains Rens Raijmakers, business developer at the company. “We started with specialist police teams, but the potential is broader. Think, for example, of customs, or perhaps defense.”

There is certainly no lack of ambition. “We won't be able to produce a thousand units per month by the end of the year, but that is ultimately our goal.”

Many units

There are currently five JENS prototypes in use by various specialist police teams in the Netherlands. Ten SAM prototypes are being used by the fire department. SPEAR is owned by the Ministry of Defense, but is not yet in use.

From the drawing board to reality

Creating a functional product also means listening carefully to the future user. Hameeteman and Raijmakers know this all too well. Hameeteman: “As an entrepreneur, you sometimes make assumptions that don't quite work in practice.” “A good example is the SAM,” Raijmakers adds: "Our idea was: you throw the robot about three meters inside, in a reasonably controlled manner. We arrived at the fire department and put the prototype on the table. A firefighter walked over, grabbed the robot, and before we knew it, he wanted to throw it against a wall. That was a good lesson for us: in critical situations, people need to be able to act quickly under pressure. And that's what our robots have to be designed for. That's why we regularly hold test days with our clients. It's the only way to find out whether what we consider ‘normal’ actually matches the user's experience."

The majority of the feedback the entrepreneurs receive about their products is positive. Hameeteman: “Many users have their feet firmly on the ground. They are practical, critical, and not easily impressed by technology. That's precisely why it's so valuable to hear from them that it's nice not to have to lie under a car in a wet parking lot anymore, because our robot takes over that task for them. The fact that they have confidence in our technology is the biggest compliment we can get.”

Contact via LEVEL UP

Not long ago, the two men met at a speed dating event organized by startup event LEVEL UP, which is organized every year by Brabant Development Agency (BOM), Braventure, and The Gate. Entrepreneurs got to know each other during a short “date.”

“I think I spoke to about fifty people that day. I didn't bump into Rens at first.” But, Hameeteman continues, “Afterwards, we were given a list of all the attendees. I saw Rens' name and got in touch with him. And that's how it happened.”

Raijmakers' expertise came in handy at Sita, Hameeteman adds. “We are very strong technically, but we lacked other qualities such as commercial acumen and a keen eye for strategic growth within our team. He joined the Sita team as a business developer in January.”

Contact with potential investors

The new prototypes are ready, the network is in place. And in addition to the many discussions among themselves, the men are also cautiously establishing contact with potential investors. “We're a bit early with that,” Hameeteman admits. "But we want to know now: when will our products be attractive enough for an investor? And when can we move on to mass production? You can never start thinking about the future too early."

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