Q-Bot – the intelligent robotics and AI tool which we featured in our Born to Engineer series – has been added to the range of energy efficiency measures offered under the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme in an effort to show how Engineering can improve people’s lives.
Warmer Homes Scotland is at the forefront of the Scottish Government’s national scheme for improving energy efficiency in homes who are in or at risk of fuel poverty.
Housing minister Kevin Stewart explained that the government had “a commitment to eradicate fuel poverty and ensure that every home in Scotland is kept warm and comfortable. The Warmer Homes Scotland Programme, delivered by Warmworks, is fundamental to us achieving those targets and I welcome the introduction of the Q-Bot technology. Innovative approaches like the Q-Bot will only make it easier for us to continue to help keep people warmer and healthier in their homes.”
The unique QBOT robot is controlled via remote control and will be used to insulate the area underneath suspended timber floors to creating a warmer more comfortable home by reducing draughts, evening out temperatures, and a decreasing the risk of damp or mould.
The Scottish government hope that Q-Bot tech will increase energy efficiency ratings as well as lowering energy bills.
In theory, a typical customer could see an average reduction in heat loss through the floor of 80% and an improvement in air permeability by one third across the whole house. This could result in annual bill savings of as much as £150 and lifetime carbon savings of around 20 tonnes of CO2.
Mathew Holloway Was Born To Engineer
Might you have already seen the Q-Bot in our Born to Engineer film in 2016? The compact remote-controlled robotic vehicles can crawl around floor voids applying polyurethane foam insulation to the underside of timber or suspended concrete ground floors.
Engineer Matt Holloway and his team have designed and built a robot designed to get into small spaces that can insulate your home. A robot literally designed keep you warm through the long cold winter nights?
How the Q-Bot Works
The Q-Bot works by survey a site to create a 3D map. Once created the team can assess and plan the installation and then use the remote-controlled SprayBot to apply polyurethane foam insulant to a depth of 100 to 150mm under the floor.
The insulation installation is then recorded and measured so that coverage is applied to a uniform depth.
According to QBot Victorian-era properties have experienced a 78% heat loss through their floors and 40% reduction in cold air after installation – a massive 24% increase in a houses overall energy efficiency.
