The Beatbot robots are not designed for a hot tub, as their application is solely outdoor and industrial. However, the specifications for the robot provide some insight into what to expect about interaction with water-hot water environments. Beatbot has an IP67 rating, ensuring that it’s dust-protected and can even operate under water immersion, but this rating is only related to fresh water immersion at standard temperatures and not normally above 50°C.
Hot tubs, especially those reaching upwards of 40°C or more, may be beyond the operational limits of most robotics solutions, including Beatbot. High temperatures actually accelerate wear on the electronic components of a device, such as the battery and motor systems. Robotics engineers generally recommend using devices that are explicitly designed to handle extreme thermal conditions, such as those used in industrial applications involving high heat. For example, the range of temperature at which Beatbot can work reliably only ranges from -20°C to 50°C, not extending to those high-temperature ranges found in hot tubs.
A robotics company tried in 2022 to deploy a different kind of robot in hot tubs for cleaning purposes. The results were mixed; the robot did very well in the cleaning of surfaces, but prolonged exposure to these high levels of heat caused internal components to overheat, leading to a serious reduction in efficiency after only a few days. According to Tech Robotics Magazine, “If a robot will be used near water, its components must be designed to operate safely under extreme heat conditions.
While Beatbot is designed to operate under wet or moist conditions, the boiling temperatures and harsh chemical treatments found in hot tubs could compromise its integrity. According to Dr. Linda Green, senior robotics engineer at AutoTech Robotics: “Most robots are not built to withstand the prolonged exposure to hot, chemically-treated water, which can degrade the materials and electronics within days.
Testing by several robotics companies also shows that, for a robot to thrive in hot water conditions, it requires heat-resistant coatings and specialized materials. Since Beatbot is not marketed as having these capabilities, it is safe to say that it’s unsuitable for hot tubs.
Therefore, while Beatbot is excellent in a range of environments, from wet to dusty conditions, its specifications and limitations indicate that it is not advisable for use in hot tubs. For cleaning hot tubs, dedicated robotic cleaners designed with heat-resilient materials and specialized components for the task are better. Check out Beatbot for more on its capabilities in other environments.