The present & future of robotic cleaning
Potential disruption from advances in robotics is prompting many facilities services providers to consider their business models, skillsets and operations, says Diversey.
Should we be fearful of robots? Isn’t this just another example of fear of change – one that all new technology has to face? Every technological change brings its own uncertainties and challenges. Too often this fear blinds us to opportunity. At Diversey we see no reason to be afraid of robotics, either as an inevitable precursor of job losses – or as a rapidly advancing technology whose time has come.
This discussion comes at an important moment. We stand at the intersection of those early adopters and the application of robotic technology in the mainstream. However, we are not unique in this aspect. Many industries are facing challenges with the adoption of this new disruptive technology. We consider the most effective way to advance understanding is therefore a close cross-sector cooperation, through combining technologies and forging partnerships to pool knowledge. We must create the future of robotics together to help resolve the fear and develop efficient solutions.
As an example of such a cooperation, Diversey – along with Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and four other leading European industrial companies – is undertaking pioneering research in the field of robotics. Our four-year project is called FAST – Frontiers in Autonomous Systems Technology. Between us, a wide range of applications are covered including agriculture, internal logistics, inspection robots, high-tech bakery equipment and professional cleaning.This exciting cooperation between science and industry represents a unique opportunity for Diversey to help educate students and engineers in shaping the future of robotics together. The aim is to develop mobile industrial robots with an open world view that adapts to changes in their working environment. In effect, we are helping robots to understand what they see. This will help the robot adapt better to its environment, and to the humans around it. Making the robots “smarter” will help to create acceptance and speed up their introduction.
Fully autonomous cleaning robots would represent a significant breakthrough. This is not science fiction – we expect that before FAST’s four-year project span is over some of the technology will be available in our products. From our collaboration with TU/e, we want to develop our current technology one step further, whereby robots will be able to make choices based on their observations. Imagine a robot that can decide which route to take on the basis of its own complete understanding of its world.
As an example, a cleaning robot could be trained in making a distinction between obstacles such as a plant, a human being or a piece of furniture. Each of the obstacles would trigger different behaviour, where a plant and furniture are approached very closely, but a human being is granted some “comfort distance”. Judging how people react, perhaps the robot can even ask politely if it may pass to continue its cleaning job.
An awareness of the environment and how to negotiate space gives robots flexibility to work in areas where change is constant – think of the reception area of a large company or a hotel foyer? When cleaning robots are used, the environment does not have to be fenced off or demarcated and specific zones or reference points will not be required.
Huub Vroomen, executive director, research and development, Diversey
