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Free navigation in indoor environments is one of the main enabling technologies for many service robot applications. Siemens has developed SINAS, a navigation system which currently is primarily targeted towards cleaning robot applications. Its suitability for tough everyday operation has been successfully demonstrated since August 1996 on several occasions, e.g. in several chain store supermarkets. The paper discusses the main requirements of a navigation system for cleaning robots, presents the structure and main features of the SINAS system, and reports experiences and results from the field tests.

This paper takes a critical look at the progress of the commercialisation of service robots. For over 20 years researchers and developers have been trying to develop robots for service or household applications. So far the forecast market potential has not been achieved. Service robots through the nature of their target applications are highly price sensitive and up to now the cost of sensors and controllers has proved prohibitively expensive. The commitment of Siemens to the development of a general purpose controller for mobile robots may provide industry with a much needed standard platform on which to develop commercial systems, but these need to become more user than developer orientated.