UMIBOTS, a project supported by Invest In Valencia, set to lead the ‘inauguration’ of the newly approved Valencia Urban Sandbox

Platjabot, the device created by Invest in Valencia success story Umibots, is poised for testing in Las Arenas in April. The Urban Sandbox ordinance, recently greenlit, adopts a one-stop-shop model, facilitating real tests to boost innovative and technological projects in the city. The aim is offering companies the opportunity to test their products in real environments to ensure their success. 

Valencia’s commitment to becoming an experimentation hub for prototypes and cutting-edge projects, addressing urban challenges, is evident in the ambitious Urban Sandbox initiative. Paula Llobet, Councillor for Innovation, Technology, Digital Agenda, and Investment, emphasizes Valencia’s pioneering role in Europe, stating, “the Urban Sandbox turns the city of Valencia into a real experimentation scenario and consolidates it as a leading city in innovation We are the first in Spain to launch such an ambitious Urban Sandbox.”

This initiative aligns with the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2030 while promoting business productivity and competitiveness, contributing to the knowledge society, enhancing public services to meet evolving citizen needs, and fostering an innovative ecosystem and culture. 

With the Living Lab and the Sandbox ready, Valencia now possesses two out of the three experimentation spaces prioritized by the European Commission to promote innovative experimentation policies among member states under public-private collaboration frameworks. 

PLATJABOT, one of the first projects to launch in the Sandbox 

Tests will take place in April at post 3 of the Malvarrosa beach, next to the Hotel Las Arenas. The Platjabot, designed to transform beach cleaning, features a sophisticated system for selecting, vacuuming, and accumulating debris from the sand. Like domestic robot hoovers, Plajtabot can be configured according to the time of day, weather conditions or beach saturation. Its advanced technology provides up to 19 hours of autonomy, covering around 4000m² per hour, with anti-vandalism measures and optimal sensors for triple security. While the initial tests focus on the beach, Platjabot’s applications extend to urban parks, recreational areas, golf courses, and various sandy terrains.

Valencia City Council has announced additional projects in the Urban Sandbox, including the adaptation of lampposts for electric vehicle charging and innovations in sports facilities to reduce energy consumption. 

About UMIBOTS 

UMIBOTS, having arrived in Valencia with the support of Invest In Valencia in May 2023, focuses on autonomous and electric robots for urban mobility. The company, with four employees, achieved a turnover of €200,000 last year. UMIBOTS boasts the UMI-MARKET project, an award-winning app-based purchasing system, and is currently developing the UMI-CLEAN, an automatic cleaning robot for indoors and outdoors.