“I find it very difficult to listen to someone who hasn't even looked at the wash physically and develops an opinion without facts to back it up…..can be easily confirmed by going to wash.
A lot of things can be confirmed by watching the video, visiting websites and doing the math.
WashBot has single basket mitter curtain with couple dozen cloth strips.
Other friction in-bay machines have dual oscillating curtains with “hundreds” of soft cloth washing strips, which cleans the hood, roof and sides of each vehicle.
Other in-bays have dual or quad rotating high-side brushes or wrap-around. Some are cloth (maybe 60 rpm) others are foam (much faster rotational speed, more work accomplished) and some use combination of cloth (lower) and foam (higher).
Washbot has one rotating high-side brush that must cover the circumference of the vehicle.
To accomplish the same amount of work in the same amount of time as rollover with two rotating side brushes, WashBot side brush would need to rotate at 120 rpm and move at 10 meters per minute (or twice as fast).
I see nothing in video or firm’s website that would lead me to suspect this is possible without compromising quality or safety.
“I resent your bias and your implication that I have a dog in the hunt.”
No one said it’s a dog, it just has no pedigree.
For example, Washbot boasts 3-axis platform but it cannot move up or down.
So, touch-less is basically inverted-L with fan spray (we know pros and cons of these) and contour drying is not possible.
Rotating top brush won’t work because of bot head.
Many in-bays have already gone from 22 or 25 GPM to 18 GPM to save water.
Coanda effect dryer with lower hp has already been tried (Laser 4000 docking dryer) and eclipsed by more efficient and effective designs (i.e. contour with nozzles, blades, bags).
Gantries usually have most stuff on-board. What does WashBot mechanical room look like?
Yes, it’s very different, but is it really as good as a Lexus or innovative as a Tesla?
I liken it to a designer product. Want something unique that is only available in limited numbers buy a Washbot.
Industry trends are friction (less cost), faster process, online profit centers, less waiting, hand-finished qualities, etc. This is domain of conveyors which command 74 percent of total available market.
So, I don’t see WashBot as next big thing or revolutionary.