We talk to Michael Tulip, Managing Director at Solstice AV, about how robotics is changing the AV landscape.
The robotics revolution isn’t arriving in a single wave of humanoid helperS, it’s unfolding quietly, as automation integrates into the environments we manage, entertain in, and care for.
In today’s AV landscape, robotics is no longer a futuristic novelty. It’s a natural extension of smart infrastructure, bringing together technology, service and sustainability in ways that make spaces work harder and smarter.
From gimmick to game-changer
We’ve all seen robots in public, cleaning floors in airports, serving dishes in restaurants, patrolling lobbies, usually with a friendly LED face and a curious audience. But the real innovation isn’t in how these robots look; it’s in how they connect.
“At Solstice, we’ve spent the last two years building a robotics division not to reinvent the wheel, but to connect it, to AV systems, to customer experience, and to reliable, scalable service,” says Michael Tulip. “And what we’ve learned along the way offers a roadmap for how robotics can transform AV from a collection of devices into an intelligent, adaptive environment.”
The hardware itself has matured. “A cleaning bot is a cleaning bot,” as Michael puts it. What matters now is integration, the ability for a robot cleaning a lobby to sync with local digital signage to alert guests that the floor is being sanitised, or for a delivery robot to link directly with a hotel’s room-service and payment systems.
That’s where robotics creates real value: as part of an ecosystem, not a bolt-on.
Why integration is the new differentiator
For AV resellers and integrators, robotics is a natural next step. It sits neatly within the same ecosystem of display, control, connectivity and service.
When you add robotics to an existing AV portfolio, you unlock new revenue streams and increase customer stickiness. You’re no longer just selling a display, you’re offering an end-to-end environment: LED projection, digital signage, cleaning and delivery automation, all backed by the same support infrastructure.
“AV companies have got to innovate,” says Michael. “Now you can deliver a full turnkey solution, cleaning robots, service robots, projectors, LED displays, and become a one-stop-shop supplier.”
In hotels, for example, where night porters are expensive and hard to find, automation enables staff to focus on high-value guest service while robots handle routine room deliveries. The same logic applies to education, retail and corporate spaces, where AV and robotics are merging to create intelligent, connected experiences.
The white-glove standard: service that scales
As robotics moves into customer-facing environments, service reliability becomes everything.
A signage glitch is an inconvenience; a robot stalling in a crowded lobby is a reputational risk. That’s why Solstice has built the UK’s largest dedicated robotics service network, offering four-hour response times, remote diagnostics and hot-swappable loan units.
“We treat robot downtime the same way an IT firm treats server downtime, with urgency and professionalism,” Michael explains. “Hot-swapping a bot should be as easy as rebooting a screen. That’s what customers expect, and what they deserve.”
Form, function and the human touch
Effective robotics design balances approachability with performance. Solstice partners with LionsBot and Pudu, two manufacturers known for creating robots that are efficient yet friendly, equipped with privacy-safe sensors, RGB-D cameras and ISO-compliant safety systems.
“The goal isn’t to mimic humans,” says Michael. “It’s to complement them. The ultimate aim is a cobot that can innovate safely, solving problems with elegance and efficiency.”
Sustainability by design
Sustainability is now a business imperative, not a marketing slogan. Every Solstice robotics deployment aims to reduce environmental impact, through lower water usage, reduced emissions and circular design.
Our partnership with LionsBot includes tangible ESG contributions such as mangrove restoration projects via Evertreen. One recent deployment cut CO₂ emissions equivalent to removing sixteen buses from the road in a single month.
For integrators competing on ESG criteria, these are powerful selling points. Robotics isn’t just about efficiency, it’s about building a smarter, greener future.
Proven in the field
This isn’t theory. Solstice robots are already in operation across multiple verticals:
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Hospitality: late-night room deliveries without staffing strain.
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Corporate and broadcast: automated cleaning and logistics at ITV and other high-traffic sites.
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Retail and QSR: robots that enhance hygiene, safety and compliance.
Each project reinforces a simple truth: when robotics is integrated into AV environments, it enhances brand experience, ROI and operational resilience.
