ICE Cobotics Cobi 18 · specs, operator review and alternatives (2026)
The ICE Cobotics Cobi 18 is an ultra-compact autonomous floor scrubber launched in 2021 for convenience stores, retail, healthcare and education. It scrubs a 480 mm path, carries 10 L of water and stands out for its very small turning circle (650 mm U-turn) and, above all, for its business model: it is sold exclusively on an all-inclusive subscription, which makes it unique in its category. It is deployed in more than 400 stores of a US retail chain. Price and availability on request.
At a glance
Technical data
Reading by environment
Floors and soiling
An ultra-compact scrubber with a cylindrical brush for hard floors: light, mixed everyday soiling in convenience stores and small spaces. No carpet. Large debris must be pre-swept. Its value lies in reaching tight spaces and in the simplicity of the subscription.
What the manufacturer does not say
The subscription changes the buying logic. The Cobi 18 is the only robot of its kind sold exclusively on an all-inclusive subscription: the relevant comparison is not with a machine price but with the cost of a complete service. In practice it is a productised service, close to a full-service contract on a single machine.
Small tanks and short runtime. 10 L and 1.5 to 2 h: reserve it for small areas, as refills and recharges will set the pace of each shift.
Anonymisation is not certification. GDPR compliance through anonymised maps and EU hosting is a privacy measure; no product certification is published. Cost structure: a single all-inclusive subscription.
Purchase or full-service contract
The Cobi 18 settles the question by itself: sold only on an all-inclusive subscription, it is already a form of productised service on a single machine, suited to small areas given its 10 L tanks. For a larger or multi-machine requirement, our robotic cleaning service applies the same logic at the scale of a whole site. See also the Pudu range and the on-site demonstration.
Strengths and limits
Strengths
- 650 mm U-turn: access to very tight spaces.
- Clear all-inclusive subscription (machine, cloud, parts, training).
- Ultra-compact (55 kg), deployed at scale (400+ stores).
Limits
- 10 L tanks and 1.5 to 2 h of runtime: small areas only.
- No docking station, no carpet.
- No published product certification.
Alternatives
- Against other ultra-compact scrubbers: the Gausium Scrubber 50 Pro and the Pudu CC1 / SH1.
- For a service approach at site scale: our robotic cleaning service, which covers several machines and continuity.
To compare with a Pudu CC1, see the Pudu CC1 profile. To put figures on it: how much does it cost?, rental or purchase? or an on-site demonstration.
Sources
Consulted on 16/07/2026: ICE Cobotics product page for the Cobi 18; internal robot database (v39). Values marked "n/p" are not published. No price is displayed: on request.
Frequently asked questions
How is the Cobi 18 sold?
Which spaces is it suited to?
Does it clean carpet?
What does it cost?
Interested in the ICE Cobotics Cobi 18, or in an alternative?
Ask us: we will tell you plainly whether this model suits your floors, and what we would do in your place. Reply within one working day.