Genrobotics
Genrobotics is a Thiruvananthapuram startup, founded in 2017 by four Kerala engineers, Rashid K, Arun George, Vimal Govind M K and Nikhil N P, to end manual scavenging through automation. Its best-known product is Bandicoot, a robot that mimics human movement to clean manholes and sewers. Four legs give it stability, a robotic arm clears waste from every corner, waterproof HD cameras allow remote operation and a gas sensor detects toxic fumes, so workers no longer need to enter the pit. Bandicoot has been used in Thiruvananthapuram since 2018 and in Ernakulam, and on 25 February 2023 Kerala became the first Indian state to announce fully robotised manhole cleaning, introduced at Guruvayur. The company won the Kerala Pride award at Huddle Global 2022 and holds 14 intellectual properties, including three patents related to Bandicoot. In 2025 it sued an IIT Madras start-up, Solinas, over patents.
💡Notable Achievement: Kerala announced fully robotised manhole cleaning with Genrobotics' Bandicoot on 25 February 2023.
What Does Genrobotics Do?
Genrobotics is a Kerala start-up whose Bandicoot robot cleans manholes and sewers so that workers no longer have to climb in, aiming to end manual scavenging in India.
“A robot that cleans sewers so people do not have to.”
Bandicoot
Four legs, a robotic arm, waterproof cameras and a gas sensor.
Social Mission
Founded by four Kerala engineers to end manual scavenging.
State Adoption
Kerala announced state-wide robotic cleaning in 2023.
What Can Genrobotics Robots Actually Do?
Cross-portfolio operational capabilities, manipulation tasks, and environmental competencies
Robotic sewer and manhole cleaning.
Manhole Cleaning
Bandicoot clears waste and detects toxic gas remotely.
Genrobotics Robots
Showing 1 of 1 total model
Bandicoot
Manufactured by Genrobotics
The Bandicoot is a specialized sanitation robot designed to eliminate manual scavenging by autonomously cleaning sewer manholes. It features a deployable drone unit with expandable robotic legs for stability, a 6-DOF human-like robotic arm for grabbing, shoveling, and unblocking solid wastes like rocks, sand, silt, sludge, and non-biodegradables, and an integrated waste bucket for extraction. Equipped with 4 HD cameras, gas sensors, and night-vision for real-time 4K video in harsh, corrosive environments, it operates up to 12m depth via a tethered control panel. Used by municipalities for efficient manhole cleaning (30 minutes vs. 3 hours manually), inspection, and sample collection, with IP68 waterproofing and nano-coating for durability in hazardous sewers. Bandicoot Mobility+ variant integrates with vehicles for rapid deployment in urban settings.
Genrobotics Timeline & Milestones
Evolutionary history, landmark prototypes, major acquisitions, and commercial roadmap
Genrobotics founded in Kerala
Four Kerala engineers found Genrobotics to eliminate manual scavenging through robotics, working from Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram.
Source: scroll.in
Bandicoot wins an Infosys award
Genrobotics' Bandicoot, described as the world's first sewer cleaning robot, wins an Infosys award.
Source: onmanorama.com
Kerala announces fully robotised manhole cleaning
Bandicoot is introduced at Guruvayur as Kerala becomes the first Indian state to use robots to clean all commissioned sewerage and drainage.
Source: onmanorama.com
Genrobotics sues Solinas over Bandicoot patents
Genrobotics files a patent case against IIT Madras start-up Solinas over scavenger robots, as competition grows in the sanitation robot market.
Source: onmanorama.com
What Makes Genrobotics Different?
Editorial AnalysisOrigin of Bots objective strategic assessment, engineering moats, and commercial hurdles
Key Strengths & Moats
- ✓Government adoption in Kerala.
- ✓Clear social purpose and patent portfolio.
Core Strategic Focus
Scaling sanitation robots across Indian cities.
Road Ahead & Challenges
- •Patent dispute with IIT Madras start-up Solinas.
- •Municipal budgets and procurement cycles.
Corporate Ecosystem & Ownership Structure
Parent company relationships, historical acquisitions, and global operating facilities
Global Facilities & Operating Hubs
Genrobotics Headquarters
HQThiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Articles & Industry News
Showing 1 recent article and news updates about Genrobotics
Frequently Asked Questions
8 AnswersVerified answers, company specifications, and deployment details about Genrobotics
What is Genrobotics?
Genrobotics is a Kerala-based robotics startup, founded in 2017, that builds robots to end manual scavenging in India, notably the Bandicoot manhole cleaning robot.
What is Bandicoot?
Bandicoot is a robot that cleans manholes and sewers. It has four legs for stability, a robotic arm to clear waste, waterproof cameras and a gas sensor for toxic fumes.
Who founded Genrobotics?
Rashid K, Arun George, Vimal Govind M K and Nikhil N P founded Genrobotics in 2017. All four are engineers from Kerala working at Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram.
Where is Bandicoot used?
Bandicoot has been used in Thiruvananthapuram since 2018 and in Ernakulam, and in February 2023 Kerala announced it would clean all commissioned sewerage and drainage with the robot.
Has Genrobotics won awards?
Yes. Bandicoot won an Infosys award in 2020, and Genrobotics won the Kerala Pride award at Huddle Global 2022, according to Indian press coverage.
Why was Bandicoot built?
It was built to stop manual scavenging, the dangerous practice of people entering sewers by hand, by letting a robot operated remotely do the cleaning instead.
What patents does Genrobotics hold?
Genrobotics holds 14 intellectual properties, including three patents related to Bandicoot, and in 2025 it sued IIT Madras start-up Solinas in a patent dispute over scavenger robots.
Where is Genrobotics based?
Genrobotics is based in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, as a Technopark start-up. It was founded in 2017 by four Kerala engineers, and its Bandicoot robot is used in Kerala for manhole and sewer cleaning.
Verified Data & Editorial Assurance
Compiled from verified corporate filings, official Genrobotics datasheets, and robotics engineering registries. Information has been verified against official manufacturer documentation. For commercial procurement or proprietary integrations, contact the manufacturer directly.