Charlotte-based Lucid Drone Technologies Inc. plans to disrupt the cleaning industry.
The startup, founded in 2018, is expanding the versatility of its power-pressure washing drones, which were built to make cleaning the exterior of buildings safer. Andrew Ashur, CEO and co-founder of Lucid, said the drones are now being tested to paint, perform post-construction cleanup, for pest control and to water lawns, among other uses.
In spring 2020, the technology was altered to disperse sanitation solutions inside buildings to suppress the spread of Covid-19. In October 2020, Lucid leased its tech to the Atlanta Falcons for use in disinfecting Mercedes-Benz Stadium after games.
“There's been a pretty fundamental shift in behavior where people don't want to do these dull, dirty, dangerous (cleaning) jobs anymore,” Ashur said. “It's not really the dream anymore. It is really a transitory workforce where a lot of people that get in it eventually springboard their way out of it.”
Lucid’s original product for cleaning the exterior of buildings, a C1 cleaning drone, helped transform the perception of the industry's workforce, the startup said. It launched with a mission to eliminate the challenges associated with cleaning exterior surfaces, such as roofs, stadiums, office buildings and apartment complexes.
More than 500,000 people are treated for ladder-related injuries in the U.S., the company noted, and about 300 lose their lives.
“I think the concept of expanding product capabilities is a big theme, ranging from the window cleaning … to future market applications,” Ashur said. “We can also focus on how this product is more versatile than simply cleaning office buildings and hotels. We've seen customers clean anything from church steeples to industrial tanks to stadium domes.”
Lucid's drones are currently integrated with Wi-Fi and LTE features, flight capabilities in urban spaces, battery-charge indicators, self-repair options and access to a T-Mobile control center.
The startup said its drones have improved businesses by increasing efficiency 80%, lowering overall costs by 77% and reducing job-site injuries by 95%.
“They are a great tool in your tool kit and additives in your workforce,” Ashur said. “They are taking away the most unenjoyable parts of the job.”
The drone tech company participated in the Y Combinator, a startup accelerator program that has launched more than 3,000 companies. Lucid’s co-founders were named among Forbes’ 30 Under 30 honorees in manufacturing and industry in 2021.
Lucid also received recognition last year in Charlotte Inno’s Fire Awards. Ashur was featured on the Charlotte Inno Under 25 list, which highlighted tech leaders in the region who were no older than 25.
