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The Viljandi-based technology company Rollo Robotics, co-founded by Sander Sebastian Agur, also known from Clevon, has set itself a bold goal: to deploy one million single-wheeled, AI-powered robots as security guards.
In an interview with Postimees, Agur opened the door to the age of physical artificial intelligence, where smart and agile robots guard airports, critical infrastructure, and other spacious outdoor areas.
The most obvious question for a single-wheeled machine is: how does it stay upright? The key to 1Rollo's solution lies in clever engineering. Most of the machine's technology – the batteries and the propulsion mechanism – is placed inside the wheel, bringing the center of gravity as low as possible. This makes the robot more stable, but it's not enough to keep it upright.
For this, a combination of sensors and smart algorithms is used. The system constantly measures the robot's position, and the motor corrects its balance before it can fall. According to Agur, achieving stability has been the most challenging part of the development.
But why choose a complex single-wheel solution instead of four wheels? The answer lies in efficiency and simplicity. Rolling a single wheel requires fewer moving parts and consumes less energy. A large wheel also gets over smaller obstacles, like rocks and holes, more easily. The goal is to create an affordable platform that can be mass-produced and used in swarms, where multiple robots operate together.
Designed for Estonian winters and puncture-proof
Unlike many robots that only work in ideal conditions, Rollo is designed to withstand Estonia's four seasons. This means the machine must be able to handle rain, snow, ice, sand, and mud.
To ensure durability, the robot has another important feature: its tire has no air. Rollo has developed its own patented airless tire, reinforced with fiberglass rods. This means a nail or a sharp rock cannot puncture it, which is crucial when a robot has to patrol a multi-kilometer area alone.
60-centimeter wheel, 45-kilo robot
According to the manufacturer's current data, the main specifications of the 1Rollo are as follows.
- The wheel has a diameter of 60 centimeters, the robot weighs approximately 45 kilograms, and the body height is about 110 centimeters according to the current configuration.
- The top speed is promised to be up to 30 km/h. This is quite fast for a security robot. However, the speed is not intended for the robot to constantly race on its patrol route. Rather, it provides the ability to move quickly from one part of the territory to another.
- Operating temperature from –20 to +55 degrees, which means the machine is designed for outdoor work, not just for the smooth floor of a warehouse.
- The body has an IP65 protection rating.
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- The company states the battery life is up to eight hours. After that, the robot can automatically return to the charging station and use wireless charging.
- A patrol robot isn't very useful if it doesn't know where it is. For this, 1Rollo uses RTK/GNSS positioning.
- The GPS accuracy of a regular phone can be a few meters depending on conditions. For a robot that needs to follow a precise path or drive to a charging dock, this may not be enough. This is where RTK, or Real-Time Kinematic, comes into play. In addition to the satellite signal, RTK uses data from a ground base station or a correction service and can, under suitable conditions, achieve centimeter-level positioning accuracy. This allows the robot to repeatedly traverse the same path much more accurately than with standard satellite navigation. Rollo uses this in conjunction with onboard sensors and cameras because satellites alone are not enough: the robot must also understand if a person, car, obstacle, or some other unexpected object appears in front of it.
- From a security service perspective, however, the second promise is a much bigger challenge: autonomous operation around the clock. A single robot cannot patrol for 24 hours straight on an eight-hour battery. For this, the entire system must work: the robot must understand on its own when the battery is running low, reach the charging station, dock with sufficient precision, charge without human intervention, and then return to its route.
More than just a moving camera
The true value of the Rollo robot lies not just in its movement, but in what it can perceive and do. The prototypes are equipped with 360-degree cameras, and thermal cameras can be added, which can see heat and detect people even in complete darkness.
Rollo robots are not just moving cameras. Any sensor can be mounted on it as the client sees fit. The base equipment includes 360-degree cameras, but thermal cameras, motion sensors, and other devices can be added. According to Agur, it is even possible to install nets or pepper spray – whatever is needed to perform security tasks.
In addition, the robot is equipped with a loudspeaker, allowing a security guard to speak directly to a person at the scene from hundreds of kilometers away. Here we arrive at the concept of Physical AI – a system that not only analyzes data but also perceives and acts in the surrounding world. This is a step beyond digital artificial intelligence, which is currently limited to generating text or images.
«Loudspeakers for scaring away birds and animals are already installed at the factory,» confirmed Agur. But it also enables two-way communication between the robot and the security team. The goal is to create a machine that can see, hear, move, and operate in a human-like environment with human-like capabilities.
From airports to the battlefield
One of the first and most important jobs for the robot will be in airports, where there is a great need to increase security capabilities while reducing costs. «Airport projects are already underway both in Estonia and abroad,» said Agur. The idea is to completely replace the current man-and-car combination for perimeter security with fully autonomous robot swarms.
Military use is also planned by the company, but due to confidentiality agreements, Agur could not reveal details. He did hint, however, that all of Estonia's critical infrastructure needs securing and that more specific information can be expected as projects mature.
A long road from prototype to a million robots
Airports are one logical place where such technology could be useful – kilometers of fencing require constant surveillance. According to Agur, projects with airports are already underway. At the same time, it is important to understand that these are currently prototypes and pilot projects, not a widely operational service.
The company recently raised 3.7 million euros to further develop the technology and prepare for large-scale production. Agur admits that although the most difficult part – getting the wheel stable – is behind them, there is still a huge amount of 'hard work' ahead. A working prototype must be turned into thousands of reliable machines that can withstand all weather and do their job day after day without engineer intervention.
The final question is simple: can this strange single-wheeled machine truly deliver on its promises and provide the security the client expects? If the answer is yes, it could become the next Estonian technology success story.
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