Protecting Robots from Environmental Factors During a Move

One of the exciting things about the current robotics landscape is how accessible it is. Whether it’s commercially manufactured robots, like automated window cleaners, or kits and components to create your own projects, it’s getting more affordable and practical to engage. 

If you’ve gathered a range of robotic devices one of the challenges you may occasionally face surrounds moving home. Robotic equipment and components can be quite sensitive to environmental factors. The last thing you want is for them to be damaged on the way to your new place. It’s worth exploring how best to safeguard your equipment from these issues during a move.

Assessing the Risks

Much like the people using them, robots can be sensitive and have individual characteristics. This means that there’s not necessarily a single correct way to protect your robots from environmental factors during a move. If you rely solely on general measures, you may wind up overlooking vulnerabilities that lead to damage. Therefore, a thorough assessment when planning your move is essential.

Start with examining each robot. What internal components do each have and what conditions are they sensitive to? For instance, wall sensors in robotic vacuum cleaners can be susceptible to impact damage and scratches. Servos that drive the motors in companion robots might be harmed by water. Alongside this, examine what innate protections are present. If your robot already features watertight covering, you may need to take fewer waterproofing precautions. If you’re uncertain of your commercial robots’ vulnerabilities, it’s always best to check with the manufacturers.

Beyond assessing the robots, you should also analyze the different steps of the journey to your new location. Getting to know the environmental hazards your equipment may face can enable you to make informed decisions. For instance, if you’re traveling overnight, you may need to consider drops in temperature, as these can affect the custom primary circuit boards (PCBs) that you've created for your robotics projects. Even the terrain of roads you’ll be traveling on can inform packing considerations.

Protecting for Transit

The process of preparing your robots for transit benefits from taking an organized approach. In many cases, this begins with considering dismantling parts of your robots. This is less likely to be a factor with commercially purchased items like robot vacuums, but projects you’ve built from kits yourself may be more sensitive to damage if you ship them in their assembled forms. Breaking these down into at least modular sections can make them easier to put in bubble wrap or pack in crates. Additionally, vacuuming the inside of computer equipment can remove any dust that may shift around and cause damage to components when on the move.

From here, it helps to follow proper crating techniques that are designed to safeguard the integrity of each specific item. This can include:

• Choosing the right type of crate for your equipment: Wooden crates are quite durable, yet they’re susceptible to moisture. Plastic crates, on the other hand, are more water resistant, but not as strong as wood.
• Using custom padding: Wherever possible, insert internal padding that is customized to the size and shape of your robotic components. This reduces the potential for jostling and damage.
• Apply climate control: Particularly if your move is going to travel through different temperatures and weather, it’s important to crate with climate control measures. Sealing crates can protect from rain and humidity. Incorporating packing peanuts can insulate against the cold.

If you’re uncertain about using crates and other packing materials to protect your robots, you might consider utilizing a professional shipping company that takes care of it for you. While there are certainly costs involved with this, a shipper with experience in managing sensitive equipment can minimize damages. That said, you need to choose a company with sufficient insurance for handling robotic items, too, in case an accident occurs along the way.

Safeguarding in Storage

There may be times when it’s just not convenient to immediately move your robots and associated equipment directly to your new home. Alternatively, you might be able to transport it to your new place, but due to ongoing renovations you can’t immediately unpack. Storing your equipment can be a good stopgap, but it’s important to take steps to minimize exposure to damaging conditions. 

In commercial storage units

Many locations have commercial storage units that you can rent for short periods or the long term. Alongside selecting a space with robust security measures, you should also choose one with a robust environment. Aim to visit the space before moving so you can assess the integrity of the space, including the water tightness of doors and ceilings. Some facilities also offer units with climate control so you can reduce your robots’ exposure to humidity or excessive heat and cold.

In a garage or outbuilding

While you may not be able to move your robotics gear directly into your main home, storing it in a garage, shed, or other outbuilding could be an option. However, it is vital to safeguard against the damage leaks in these areas may cause your equipment. Alongside keeping robots in their crates, it can be wise to invest in water alarms that give advance warning of leaks. There are various different types of alarms. Some use sensors to spot early signs of surface water while others pick up excessive changes in humidity. Many can connect to your home’s wi-fi, sending alerts directly to your smartphone, so you can address potential issues before they cause damage.

Conclusion

Protecting your robots from environmental factors during a move requires attention to detail. Performing informed risk assessments and adopting effective crating practices are among the steps to keep your equipment safe from harm. It’s also worth reaching out to the online robotics community for advice on your specific robotic tools. Other enthusiasts may be able to offer insights and highlight nuanced challenges based on their lived experiences.