Build Autonomous Workshop Vacuum Robot

We run a car workshop in Sharjah, UAE (300 sqm enclosed, smooth epoxy/concrete floor). We want a maker, hobbyist or student team to build us an autonomous dry-vacuum robot for our floor. The job: - Drives itself around cars, lifts and equipment, covering the floor without supervision - Collects mostly very fine dust (with some sand) through a filter into an easy-to-empty bin. Dry vacuuming only, no mopping - Runs on a schedule (e.g. overnight) and respects no-go zones around vehicle lifts and oily/wet areas - Simple enough for us to empty, clean and maintain locally Our reference starting point is a documented university project that motorised a standard shop vacuum with a Raspberry Pi, 2D lidar and a drill battery, but we are open to a better approach if you have one. The deal: we fund all parts (roughly AED 2,000-4,000 / USD 550-1,100) plus a token payment for your time, agreed up front. This suits someone who wants an interesting real-world build for their portfolio, studies or hobby. It is not a market-rate engineering contract. Who we're looking for: a maker, hobbyist, student or small team, ideally in Dubai or Sharjah. India-based builders are welcome for design work with remote support. You should be comfortable with a Raspberry Pi or similar, lidar navigation (ROS or a simpler stack), motors and basic fabrication. Reply with what you have built before and how you would approach this.