Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 25th July 2024 Issue no. 1124
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AI Robots navigate crowds to keep warehouses clean and safe
Hailing from London, deeptech startup United Robots has unveiled a fleet of autonomous industrial cleaning robots. Designed specifically for bustling industrial spaces and equipped with advanced AI detection to navigate crowded spaces, these robots can scrub an area equivalent to two football fields on a single charge, ensuring continuous cleaning without compromising human safety.
Konrad Cop, a former Mars rover engineer, leads the team behind this innovation.
Robots capable of working seamlessly with humans in tight spaces help maintain safety and cleanliness without halting operations or shifting staff. Slips, trips and falls are the most common ways people get hurt in warehouses, according to the American National Safety Council. Spills and debris cause 30% of these accidents. Given the demanding nature of industrial settings, pauses for cleaning can be expensive. Autonomous cleaning robots that can navigate through crowds ensure safety and reduce extra labour costs outside regular hours.
"Our robots are highly efficient and reliable; their real edge lies in their ability to work harmoniously with humans in crowded settings, in real-time,” says Dariusz Mankowski, CEO and co-founder of United Robots. “We've redesigned the traditional machine, enabling each robot to turn in place, making it extremely agile."
The robots’ smart AI-driven system prevents cleaning overlaps, conserving water, detergents and energy. This approach offers a sustainable cleaning solution that cuts warehouse or manufacturing site maintenance costs.
After extensive testing in Poland, Europe's fourth-largest warehouse supply market, the robots are set to debut in the UK and Germany. Businesses adopting this technology can expect cost savings of up to 85%.
The company has garnered the support of Aper Ventures and co-investors. Piotr Slawski, managing partner in Aper Ventures, comments: "Our investment in these floor scrubbing robots signals a paradigm shift where machines enhance human tasks rather than interrupting them. It proves that deeptech offers solutions even for warehouse, automotive, and manufacturing managers seeking solutions for staffing shortages."
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