Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Christopher J. Bay is a researcher specializing in autonomous robotics, building energy efficiency, and automated energy auditing systems. His work addresses a critical challenge in sustainable infrastructure: while buildings account for approximately 40% of all US energy consumption and carbon emissions, the high cost and specialized expertise required for traditional energy audits mean that only a fraction of buildings ever receive them. Bay's most significant contribution lies in developing autonomous robotic systems capable of conducting building energy assessments without human auditors. His research, published across a series of foundational papers beginning in 2014, tackles this problem from multiple angles — covering robotic navigation and indoor mapping, light fixture identification, and comprehensive energy analysis. By breaking the auditing process into discrete automated components, his work demonstrates a scalable pathway to dramatically expanding the reach of building energy audits. Though his citation counts remain modest, with his most-cited work receiving four citations, Bay's research represents pioneering applied work at the intersection of robotics and building science — fields not traditionally combined. His contributions lay important groundwork for future large-scale deployment of autonomous assessment technologies, offering a practical and cost-effective alternative to conventional energy auditing methods.