Kevares Autonomous Services
When: October 24 & November 13, 2024
* Dates are subject to change
Where: Vaughan Grove Sports Park, 7401 Martin Grove Rd
Ward: 2
Project Partner: City of Vaughan • Public Works – Parks, Forestry and Horticulture Operations
Grass Maintenance Works Robot
The City manages more than 200 parks and more than 800 hectares of parks and open spaces. Grass in these areas is cut on a two-week rotation, from May to October.
The Kevares’ maintenance robot demonstration is designed to enhance the maintenance of grass cutting in parks. The robot will autonomously navigate enclosed areas such as baseball and soccer fields, performing precise grass cutting without human intervention. This demonstration will evaluate the robot's ability to maintain the grass in the park, ensuring even cuts, proper coverage, and operational reliability. By testing the technology in real-world conditions, the demonstration aims to assess its potential to streamline park maintenance, reduce labor costs, and maintain the city’s green spaces more efficiently.
NOTE: Staff will be present to supervise the demonstration.
Purpose:
Lawn mowing within a digital “smart-pylon" geofence. Demonstration will within an enclosed sports field.
Expected Outcomes:
- Test object detection & cutting efficiency
- Measure time saved for maintenance activities
- Determine reduction in movement of Public Works teams
Company Description:
Kevares Autonomous Services provides autonomous mobile robots combined with AI and software to conduct a wide range of labour-intensive or hazardous operations so that municipalities can do more with less and deliver better, safer results. With the electric robots provided by Kevares, municipalities can conduct city-wide operations like sidewalk inspections, litter collection, energy/utility asset inspections, parking concierge, lawn-mowing and more with reduced carbon footprint and manpower so that staff can be allocated to more critical tasks.
About Maintenance Works Robots
The robots are equipped with sensors, cameras, and AI algorithms to navigate and collect deficiencies data on sidewalks and cycle lanes.
City staff will accompany the maintenance robot during the demonstration. The maintenance robot is controlled by human operators and is configured to travels at pedestrian speed (3-5km/hr).
After scanning the sidewalk and cycle lane, a report will be provided to City staff.
The City manages more than 200 parks and more than 800 hectares of parks and open spaces. Grass in these areas is cut on a two-week rotation, from May to October. The demonstration aims to assess how accurately the maintenance works robots perform in designated areas, and measure how much time is saved compared to traditional methods. By using robots to supplement the work of City staff, our teams can reallocate their tasks to maintain our parks and open spaces more efficiently.
Safety protocols are critical for both humans and the equipment.
In preparation for the demonstration, the robots are inspected through a safety test in a controlled environment. Additionally, the test location will be inspected for any obstacle or environmental risk.
Our team will be on site with the company’s team, and the maintenance robot can be piloted with a controller, and are programmed to follow a guide. Emergency shut offs are available during the demonstration.
The data collected will be used to monitor the condition of sidewalks and cycle lanes, provide analysis to schedule maintenance tasks, and improve the efficiency of city maintenance operations.
Expected outcomes include improved condition and safety of sidewalks and cycle lanes, quicker identification and resolution of maintenance issues, and insights on how maintenance robots can be integrated into maintenance routines. The demonstration should provide insights into the effectiveness, efficiency, and reliability of autonomous robots in maintaining public infrastructure.
Our team will be on-site during the demonstrations. They are scheduled for selected days in the Fall of 2024.
If you encounter a robot during our live demonstration, our team will direct you or the robot to maintain a safe distance. Do not touch or interact with the robot and allow it to maintain its tasks.
The robots may capture visual data to assess the condition of sidewalks and cycle lanes, but they are not designed to collect personal information. Any data collected will be anonymized and used solely for maintenance and infrastructure management purposes.