CLEANING ROBOTS – LONG OVERDUE OR STILL IN THE DISTANT FUTURE?
THE CR 700 THOROUGHLY AND CAUTIOUSLY PROCESSES THE AREA ASSIGNED TO IT. WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A DIGITAL CRISTIANO RONALDO (CR7), BUT THE CLEANING ROBOT “ADLATUS CR 700”. THIS FULLY AUTOMATED ROBOT HAS BEEN TURNING ITS ROUNDS AT MUNICH AIRPORT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW. READ ALL ABOUT OUR EXPERIENCES WITH THE ROBOT AND HOW WE IMAGINE THE WORLD IN 10 YEARS IN OUR BLOG!
EXPERIENCES IN DAILY OPERATIONS
In order to get a realistic impression of the activities of the cleaning robot, we talked to our Managing Director Aviation, Thomas Jessberger. He has been promoting this topic internally for a long time and is enthusiastic about the robot.
Mr. Jessberger, how did you come up with this topic?
We have been dealing with this topic intensively since 2016. However, at that time the manufacturers were not yet in a position to provide a testable device. Thanks to our intensive cooperation with Kenter, we were one of the first facilities services providers to be able to test the Adlatus.
How long has the robot been in use?
After a few preliminary tests, the long-term test commenced in June 2018. Since then, we have been testing the Adlatus daily.
What insights have you gained so far?
After some initial challenges with correct programming, the test is now running smoothly. The cleaning result is positive. Highly frequented surfaces remain a challenge for the manufacturer. Our test area at Munich Airport has a high degree of passenger traffic and we have made good experiences. The robot is a real eye catcher and passengers are very interested in it.
What do you like most about the topic?
Digitisation, especially in facilities services, is an interesting topic, which has been on my mind for a long time. We see digitalisation as a vital tool in assisting our employees in their day to day activities and also in counterbalancing the shortage of staff.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
As one of the first cleaning robots, the Adlatus CR 700 is one of the most efficient robots available on the open market. Thanks to the holistic approach taken by Adlatus, the robot scores particularly well in the categories of cleaning results and passenger safety.
With its combat weight of 300 kg, the robot is not easy to throw off the track. It’s 98 cm high, 80 cm wide and 1 m long and can clean between 3 to 5 hours with one battery charge. This enables it to clean an area of 750 to 1500 m² per session. In this regard, the CR 700 is an important addition for our cleaning teams.
However, the robot still has a few hurdles to struggle with. These include the detection of some objects or blockages on its path. Moreover, the setup is still too complicated. However, these weaknesses are not limited to the CR 700, but affect practically all robots available on the market.
Thanks to a charging station, the robot will soon be able to work completely autonomously and recharge itself, exchange water and refill liquids. This makes it possible to clean large areas on an almost continuous basis.
OUR FINDINGS SUMMARISED
As a first mover in the field of digital innovations, both in robotics and in the facilities management software solutions, Sasse Group has taken an important step to support the further development of autonomous cleaning robots, with the acquisition of the robot. Knowledge gained from numerous tests allows the robots to be further developed and optimised.
As a tireless helper for cleaning large areas without many obstacles, the CR 700 is already well suited for practical use. However, its use only makes sense under certain conditions and currently requires a great deal of attention. The charging station will significantly contribute to the practical applicability of the robot.
The great attention that the robot attracts in public areas that are permanently open or accessible is a little obstructive to regular operation and must be taken into consideration.
