How KUKA Robots Are Reinventing the Touchless Car Wash
An Autowash representative discusses how the company, working with KUKA Group, uses industrial robots and vehicle sensing to make touchless car washing more precise, water efficient, and scalable.
In this talk
- 0:14
Rethinking outdated wash equipment
Autowash found much of the car wash industry relied on aging technology, and its own equipment had been discontinued. The team decided to design a new system, using industrial robots to extend the automation already common in car washing.
- 0:50
Choosing and adapting KUKA robots
Autowash evaluated several robot makers before partnering with KUKA. With KUKA, the team used KUKA.Sim to choose the KR 16 2010 arm for wall mounting and the needed reach. A custom tool head combines spray heads and air nozzles.
- 1:44
Planning each vehicle’s wash
Four cameras build a 3D image of each car, which Move It Pro uses to generate a vehicle-specific wash plan. KUKA’s robotic sensor interface helps carry out each plan on the robot. KUKA also supplied a software platform and reusable components for developing the application.
- 2:20
Safety and water use
Four AI cameras check for people in the bay and moving vehicles; when they detect either, the machines stop. Autowash says precise robot movement and changes to the tool head have reduced average water use to 20 gallons per car, compared with a stated industry range of 40 to 100 gallons.
- 2:38
Scaling the system across locations
An Autowash representative says installation, robot operation, and maintenance were manageable, with KUKA support helping the team build confidence. The company reports 27 locations and 66 bays to replace, and plans to fit those bays with the KUKA system, citing water and energy savings, efficiency, and customer response.
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