Robot Maintenance 101: Keeping Your Rental Perfect

When you hire a robot through roboTED, major maintenance and repairs are our responsibility. But daily care from your team keeps the robot performing at its best and helps you avoid unnecessary damage charges. This guide covers what you need to know for every type of robot in our fleet.

Daily Care: The Five-Minute Routine

Regardless of the robot type, a quick daily check prevents most issues. Wipe down exterior surfaces with a soft, dry microfibre cloth. For restaurant robots, use a lightly dampened cloth with mild detergent to remove food residue, then dry immediately. Check the charging contacts for debris. Inspect the wheels or tracks for hair, string, or other material that might have wound around them. Finally, verify that all sensors and cameras are clean and unobstructed.

Battery Care and Charging Best Practices

Modern robots use lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries that perform best when kept between 20% and 80% charge for daily use. Avoid running the battery to zero regularly, as deep discharge cycles reduce battery lifespan. Most robots will automatically return to their dock when battery drops below 15-20%.

Charge overnight in a well-ventilated area away from direct heat sources. Do not cover the robot or its charging dock while charging. If the robot will not be used for more than a week, charge it to approximately 50% and power it down rather than leaving it on the dock continuously.

Sensor and LiDAR Maintenance

Robots rely on LiDAR, ultrasonic, infrared, and camera sensors for navigation and obstacle avoidance. A dusty or smudged sensor can cause erratic behaviour, navigation errors, or false obstacle detection. Clean LiDAR windows weekly with a soft lens cloth. Avoid using abrasive cleaners or paper towels that could scratch the sensor covers. For robots operating in dusty environments like warehouses or construction sites, increase cleaning frequency to daily.

Category-Specific Tips

Delivery Robots (BellaBot, KettyBot)

Clean trays after every service with food-safe sanitiser. Check that tray sensors detect when items are loaded and removed. If the cat-face screen on BellaBot appears dim, it is usually a brightness setting, not a defect. Avoid placing liquids directly on trays without a non-slip mat.

Cobots (UR5e, UR10e)

Inspect cable harnesses monthly for signs of wear, especially at flex points near joints. Check that the emergency stop button responds correctly at the start of each shift. Wipe joint seals with a dry cloth and report any unusual sounds such as grinding or clicking to roboTED support immediately.

Robot Dogs (Spot, Go2)

After outdoor use, clean the feet and leg joints to remove mud, gravel, and moisture. Check the belly cameras for scratches or fogging. Store indoors at room temperature. Spot's battery should be removed for charging; never leave it charging unattended for extended periods.

When Something Goes Wrong

If the robot behaves unexpectedly, use the emergency stop first. Do not attempt to disassemble or repair any component yourself, as this may void the hire agreement and insurance coverage. Contact roboTED support, available during business hours, and we will guide you through basic troubleshooting or dispatch an engineer if needed. Most issues can be resolved remotely within 30 minutes.