StaffThe robotics revolution has arrived—not as a sudden wave of humanoid assistants, but as a steady integration into the environments we manage, entertain in, and care for. In the world of AV, robotics is no longer a futuristic gimmick; it’s a natural, necessary extension of smart infrastructure. Daniel Brown, seasoned multimedia journalist and former editor of Digital Signage Today in the United States explores the issue.
Okay, we’ve all seen robots working in public — often in the form of cobots wheeling dishes around a restaurant, hoovering floors in a retail space, or doing security patrols in airports and transportation hubs, all while sporting an endearing cartoon face on a small LED screen. But what exactly makes for cutting-edge robotics, and which solutions have the staying power for years to come, rather than merely serving as an eye-catching gimmick? I spoke to robotics expert Michael Tulip, director at Solstice AV, to get a picture of what to expect from the industry.
“At Solstice, we’ve spent the last two years building a robotics division not to reinvent the wheel, but to connect it: to AV systems, to customer experience, and to service reliability,” Michael told me. “And what we’ve learned along the way offers a roadmap for how robotics can transform AV from a series of devices into an intelligent, adaptive environment.”
Much like the AV space, robotics hardware has become universally better and more cost-effective, so it’s no longer about getting the newest or shiniest robot; instead, the new frontiers have more to do with sustainability, customer service and support, and integration across systems.
The real value isn’t the robot — It’s the ecosystem
The robotics hardware market has matured. “A cleaning bot is a cleaning bot,” as Michael puts it. The real differentiator now is integration. That means a robot that’s not just cleaning a lobby but is also syncing with the in-area digital signage as it goes to alert visitors that the floor is being sanitised.
“Robotics is just a natural extension of an AV company that’s offering innovative technology, and it has to fit into their ecosystem and become a natural extension of their current portfolio,” Michael said. “It’s a real return on investment — it is a money earner, a great revenue stream, and significant value added for your customers.”
Despite the rapid expansion of robotics, many AV companies are lagging behind the times, which means innovators have a chance to step up in a big way. “AV companies have got to change their mentality; you’ve got to innovate,” Michael said. “Now you can give a full turnkey solution. Now you have cleaning robots, serving robots. You have your LED projectors. You’ve got X, Y and Z. You’ve become a one stop shop supplier.”
In hotel spaces, where night porters are expensive and often overworked, being able to tie the room service order system into the robotics system allows staff simply to load an order for delivery to a room via robot, whose systems have already verified payment; a guest who is feeling peckish gets their food quickly and without having to deal with a late-night social interaction with a delivery person. It’s a win-win.
The all-in-one solutions provided by integrated AV and robotics systems extend across verticals, from corporate and retail to corporate and education; for example, educational institutions can now simply sign up for integrated digital signage, pro AV, and cleaning services thanks to the unified approach, all from the same provider and with all systems integrated, including API for end user systems.
Solstice’s approach builds on this idea. By positioning robotics as an AV-enabled service—rather than an isolated unit—they unlock a multiplier effect for smart environments in hospitality, education, and facilities management.
“A good robot works alone,” says Michael. “A great one works as part of your AV team.”
The importance of the white glove experience
As robots take on tasks in customer-facing environments, the stakes for service and support rise. A signage display glitch is a minor annoyance. A robot that breaks down mid-shift or goes offline in front of a client? That’s an experience-breaker.
That’s why Solstice has invested in building the UK’s largest-to-date robotics service network, offering up to four-hour response times, with services like delivery of hot-swappable units for use during repairs. Their philosophy is simple: treat robot downtime the same way an IT firm treats server downtime—with urgency and professional support. In environments like hotels, restaurants, or campuses, where robots interact with guests, downtime isn’t just technical—it’s reputational.
“With robots, you need to support the service, the aftercare, the warranty, and the ins and outs—how the robot works, how you break it down, and the user training. That was absolutely central to our goal of becoming the UK’s biggest provider of integrated AV and robotics solutions. The real struggle was getting the infrastructure put into place.”
Service also means proactive support. Solstice offers remote diagnostics, OTA updates, and field hot-swapping—a luxury in a market still adjusting to the challenges of real-world robotic deployments. A longtime problem in the AV and digital signage space has been integrators who are too eager to make a sale without then providing the ongoing support the customer needs, and the same goes for the nascent field of robotics; that is why Solstice AV has spent years building a formidable support ecosystem for both AV and robotics, so that customers can feel confident that they are not merely purchasing a product or solution—they are entering an ongoing relationship with an expert service provider who has their back as they modernize their business.
“Hot-swapping a bot should be as easy as rebooting a screen,” Michael notes. “That’s what customers expect—and what they deserve.”
Human form vs. human function
There’s an aesthetic divide in robotics between what looks human and what works efficiently. In industrial settings, cage-enclosed robots move at dizzying speeds—but require distance from humans. In public spaces, speed is governed down to ensure safety. That trade-off—between efficiency and human compatibility—is at the heart of Solstice’s approach to cobotics (collaborative robotics).
For AV integrators, the implication is clear: form matters as much as function. A service robot should be approachable, not intimidating. Solstice works with trusted manufacturers like Pudu and LionsBot, whose designs balance visual friendliness with privacy-centric, secure, and ISO-compliant safety protocols (e.g., RGB-D cameras, ultrasonic sensors, and heat mapping).
The goal isn’t to mimic humans—it’s to complement them. As Michael puts it, “The ultimate goal is a cobot that can innovate in situ safely, solving problems with elegance and efficiency.”
Sustainability: More than a bonus
Sustainability isn’t just a checkbox for RFPs anymore—it’s a driver of brand identity and client value. Solstice AV robots reduce water usage, lower emissions, and, in partnership with LionsBot, support environmental restoration efforts like mangrove planting through Evertreen.
One LionsBot deployment, for instance, saved the equivalent CO₂ emissions of 16 buses in a single month. That’s not just a statistic—it’s a selling point AV integrators can use when competing on ESG criteria in tenders and proposals.
By tying robotics to green AV narratives, Solstice positions itself as a leader in “Tech for Good”—a crucial pivot for the AV industry as it adapts to evolving client demands and public scrutiny.
Real use cases: The proof is in the deployment
Solstice AV isn’t speculating on potential—they’re already deploying. One blue-chip QSR brand uses cleaning bots for compliance and hygiene assurance. An ITV building uses robots in a high-traffic media environment, seamlessly integrated into daily operations. In hospitality, bots have eliminated the 3 a.m. scramble for staff to deliver bottled water or late-night orders.
Each deployment shows that when robots are treated as part of the AV experience—not a bolt-on—they enhance the brand experience, improve ROI, and reduce the friction of human labour shortages.
Looking ahead: AV and robotics are converging
Where do we go from here?
The long arc of development points toward deep multimodal learning, where language models and spatial reasoning converge. That’s a complex—and still theoretical—path, with challenges around strong AI, data ethics, and safety.
But in the meantime, there is immense value in the pragmatic integration of robotics and AV. For integrators, the future isn’t just about installing screens or configuring control rooms. It’s about enabling responsive, intelligent environments—with robots as both tool and teammate.
Michael calls this the “AV-robotics convergence.” It’s not a buzzword. It’s a strategy. And for companies ready to embrace that strategy with service, sustainability, and customer needs at the core, the opportunity is vast.
About the Author:
Daniel Brown is a seasoned multimedia journalist and technology enthusiast with a strong background in the pro AV industry. As the former editor of Digital Signage Today in the United States, he earned a reputation for creating innovative multimedia and written content.
With a passion for emerging technologies, Daniel has a special interest in sustainability and next-gen technologies like holograms, electronic paper, and human-computer interface technologies. His expertise spans a wide range of subjects, making him a versatile and insightful contributor to any project he undertakes.