Lucid Bots brings embodied AI to commercial painting - The Robot Report

Lucid Bots Inc., a Charlotte-based robotics company founded in 2018, has introduced new painting and coating capabilities for its Sherpa Drone, originally designed for exterior building cleaning. The drone uses a power tether to stay aloft while lifting a hose from the ground to supply water or paint, with the paint reservoir remaining on the ground. The system features automation-assisted controls such as “Distance Lock,” which uses onboard sensors to maintain the optimal distance and angle between the spray nozzle and the surface, ensuring consistent coverage and minimizing overspray. The drone’s design also incorporates military-grade nano-coatings to prevent paint from adhering to its surface, facilitating easy cleanup. Lucid Bots aims to address the growing demand for automation in large-scale commercial and industrial infrastructure projects amid significant labor shortages and safety concerns in construction. With over 40% of construction workers expected to retire by 2031, the company leverages embodied AI—robots capable of navigating and manipulating the physical world—to perform dangerous and demanding tasks like painting