Beyondsoft and SUTD Assess Building Readiness for Robot Adoption

Beyondsoft Innovation Lab and the Singapore University of Technology and Design assessed Beyondsoft’s Beijing headquarters to identify the building conditions and systems needed to support autonomous mobile robots.

As building owners explore robotics for facilities management, successful deployment depends on the environments in which robots operate. Floor surfaces, navigation conditions and connections to building systems all influence how effectively robots can perform their tasks.

Beyondsoft Innovation Lab and the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) completed an on-site assessment of Beyondsoft’s Beijing headquarters to establish a practical baseline for robot readiness and inform planning for future adoption.

Assess the Building and Its Systems

The assessment combined two complementary areas of evaluation.

SUTD led the technical and spatial assessment, using sensor testbeds to examine navigation routes, threshold clearances, floor friction and optical blind spots.

Beyondsoft Innovation Lab assessed operational and systems readiness, including Building Management System interfaces, machine-to-machine connectivity and the ability to coordinate workflows across multiple robot fleets.

Together, these assessments examined both the physical conditions robots encounter and the digital infrastructure needed to support their operation.

Identify Practical Building Improvements

The assessment identified floor transitions and glass partitions as areas requiring attention.

High-pile carpets and raised floor edges affected wheel traction and localisation. Low-profile transition ramps were identified as a targeted improvement to help robots move more consistently between surfaces.

Full-height glass meeting-room partitions also affected laser-based navigation, producing misleading readings of open space. Matte frosted strips positioned at sensor height were identified as a measure to improve boundary detection.

These findings translate building conditions into specific improvements that can be considered before broader robot deployment.

Plan for Robotics from the Start

The collaboration highlights the value of treating robot adoption as part of building and infrastructure planning.

For developers, architects and facilities managers, an assessment provides a basis for incorporating robot requirements into new designs, prioritising upgrades to existing spaces and evaluating how building systems will support autonomous operations.

By establishing measurable readiness criteria, the approach supports more informed decisions about where to begin and which improvements to address first.

Connect with Beyondsoft Innovation Lab to explore building readiness and opportunities for robotics collaboration.