15.06.23

Robots in building cleaning: a solution to the shortage of staff

It is still unusual to see unmanned scrubber dryer robots in operation. Robots have not yet become established in the cleaning industry, and people cannot often be replaced since work can only be performed manually. However, this could change soon.

Due to the growing shortage of skilled staff, it is becoming increasingly more important in many countries to reduce time-consuming activities. Cleaning robots are therefore becoming more important, especially since some models now work so autonomously that they provide great relief for certain applications. Easy handling and high safety standards ensure a wide range of applications from logistics operations to hospitals to sports gyms.

New autonomy: robots as independent workers

When considering the autonomous operation of machines, the objective is to minimise the need for human intervention. To this end, there are different approaches relating to both the actual use of cleaning robots and the supply of the machine. Models are now available that can autonomously control a docking station. They are loaded there automatically and filled with resources without the operators having to do anything. In an ideal scenario, scrubber dryer robots can clean extensively right up to the edge without the need for any additional manual work. If the machines contain high-performance software, sensors and the ability to move backwards autonomously, they can even free themselves unaided from dead ends by means of a clearance manoeuvre.

Total safety: cutting-edge technology as a guarantee of accident-free work

Complete autonomy would be no help if cleaning robots do not meet the most exacting safety standards, especially in areas frequented by the general public. 360° monitoring of the surroundings is now possible with the aid of laser scanners and 3D and ultrasonic sensors. People, other moving obstacles and stationary objects are therefore reliably detected. Depending on the model and manufacturer, safety features are certified in accordance with the provisions of CSA (North America) or IEC (Europe). An external authority must always confirm that the robot enables safe operation in accordance with the relevant standards.

Designed with the user in mind: easy handling for everyone

There are still some inhibitions when operating robots although it is now very simple to control them. The background: when the first scrubber dryer robots were launched on the market, only service engineers with technical equipment and special programming knowledge were able to create a route plan. Improved sensors, higher data quality and modern operating concepts ensure that every user can now create, correct or combine routes without any technical support.

Depending on the model, step-by-step instructions show what needs to be done. If a route is to be programmed, the user chooses a starting point. This starting point is marked with a code that can be read by the robot. The user then teaches the robot the scheduled cleaning route or moves the robot around a defined cleaning area which the latter subsequently handles autonomously. In order to teach the robot, it is recommended that the user accompanies the robot around, for example, retail areas without PoS (point of sale) stands. The robot therefore cleans the area irrespective of the position where stands are subsequently located and removed again without it having to be taught again. The status of the cleaning robot can be called up in real time.

No rivals: robots and humans as a team

Although cleaning robots could be regarded as a rival to a traditional building service provider, practice proves the opposite. However, a coherent cleaning concept, which takes account of the increased demands on cleanliness and hygiene in public spaces, needs the know-how of skilled personnel. Deployment planning for the robot must also be well thought-out in order to reduce distances and cleverly combine routes. The codes for starting the route or locations for docking stations must therefore be set accordingly.

The attainable degree of automation also has clear limits since many activities have to be performed manually. Robots represent a good solution wherever monotonous work in areas such as logistics, the retail trade, production, transport or the health care system takes up a great deal of time, thereby leading to high costs. If autonomous machines are then used, cleaners can perform other more complex tasks for which they had too little time or even no time in the past.

Floor cleaning as an example: scrubber dryer robots

Everyday floor cleaning is often a true time wasting activity that also proves rather strenuous for cleaners. Scrubber dryer robots can provide valuable assistance in this area since they cope with medium-sized to large areas depending on their design and also manoeuvre safely in narrow surroundings. If the cleaning robots perform their resource management themselves, they can clean an area of several thousand square metres a day without any human intervention. In order to attain very good results on a consistent basis, the water volume, the cleaning agent dosing and work speed are set in advance in line with the degree of soiling.

If the machines feature powerful batteries and high area output and cleaning performance, they improve productivity and cleaning quality while simultaneously reducing the workload of cleaners.