Summary Draft #2 Cleaning Robots

 Cleaning Robots

The webpage, “A Whiz at commercial cleaning," from SoftBank Robotics (n.d.), introduces the functions and features of Whiz, an “autonomous vacuum sweeper” that not only “uses a trusted AI platform” to provide “higher quality and more efficient cleaning," but also has proof of the overall performance of the system. To have safety precautions when the Whiz is operating, some safety features are being implemented. It consists of a LIDAR sensor, a 3D camera, a sensor-installed bumper, cliff sensors, wheel contact sensors, and an emergency brake function. According to the “Whiz” webpage, the LIDAR sensors and the 3D camera are used for obstacle detection and fall prevention. The sensor-installed bumper is for impact detection. And lastly, the cliff sensors, wheel contact sensors, and emergency brake function are for anomaly detection. In addition to the safety features, there are also alert functions such as a notification pager, which attaches to the main unit, and a smartphone app.

The technology that the Whiz cleaning robot presented has the potential to be the solution to help ease the lack of manpower in the cleaning industry. Whiz cleaning robots can be used to help complement and provide a safe environment for the employees in the industries by being effective, though many would think having robots in the industry would replace the employee and take away their job.

Cleaning robots, such as Whiz, are able to work hand in hand with the employees. According to Ashton (n.d.), a robot created and designed to work alongside people is referred to as a “cobot.” “Cobotics” is a neologism created from the words “collaborative” and “robotics”. Due to the “direct result” of the pandemic, cleanliness and sterilization have been the focal points. Thus, by automating tedious and manual operations, robots can assist organizations in meeting the increased demand for cleanliness. The cleaners can then concentrate on other crucial tasks, such as sterilizing “high-touch, high-risk, or difficult-to-clean places” like elevator buttons, bathrooms, desks, etc. This way, rather than competing with workers, robots can “complement” the workers. With extra time to undertake new duties, employees may be able to “value-add” by providing “additional services to customers." (GERMii, 2021)

Whiz is able to provide a safe environment for the employees to work in. According to TEAM GROUP (n.d.), robots can significantly contribute to safer working conditions by reducing tasks that result in mishaps and blunders due to human error. Thanks to various technologies, some of the hardest and riskiest cleaning tasks can be performed without needing humans. Whiz will automate vacuuming so the cleaners can concentrate on more "human-centric duties." Whiz is able to steer clear of surrounding obstacles and informs the operators with “real-time data and alerts," putting the user’s mind at ease despite minimal supervision. In addition, these “usage metrics and data analytics” are able to certify cleanliness for all building users while also enhancing cleanliness efficiency over time. (GERMii, 2021)

Whiz is an effective, high-tech cleaning medium. According to Flynn (2022), cleaning robots are very effective at doing the jobs they are intended to do. They can be programmed to steer clear of areas that contain a lot of potential obstacles. The “high-quality” cleaning robots available today will be “equipped” with “advanced sensors” that reduce the possibility of the robot becoming stuck or bumping into objects. The current cleaning standard uses the “application of harsh antiviral chemicals." From health, financial, and environmental points of view, this is "concerning,” as the long-term consequences of heavy chemical use are unknown. Staff should be advised not to use products excessively, and the disinfectants should be carefully checked to rule out any chances of having substances with negative side effects that could pose a problem, such as “respiratory irritation or disease”. (Van Haltren, 2021) GERMii Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) is an “attachment device dedicated to the robot”. With the aid of GERMii’s technology, UV-C is changed into a “concentrated beam of light” that is “lethal” to viruses, bacteria, and pathogens. The cleaning staff only needs to use “soap and cloth” to sanitize the surfaces and disinfect them without using chemicals. In addition, when deployed together with Whiz, the UV-C module is close enough to the surface of the floor to “almost instantly” kill “Covid-19, bacteria, and fungi”. (GERMii, 2021)

Despite the many benefits the Whiz cleaning robot has, the drawback it has is that many would think that having robots in the industry would replace the employee and take away their jobs. According to CNBC (2019), while researchers anticipated that the use of robots would gain a profit “in terms of productivity and economic growth”, they also recognized the negative impact that was anticipated to occur at the same time. The extensive impacts will alter the capabilities and potentially replace task that was once performed by humans. (ET Online, 2020) Tens of millions of jobs will be lost by robots at an accelerating rate as the robots become progressively more advanced. (Cooper, 2019) By 2030, an estimation of up to 20 million manufacturing jobs are set to be replaced by robots.

In conclusion, there is an ample amount of evidence to show that cleaning robots, such as Whiz, is beneficial to the industry. However, with robots becoming more advanced and being used in the industry, the implementation of using cleaning robots should still be monitored carefully, in order to put people’s mind at ease. All in all, people should also approach this with an open-mind so that it can help with the industry in the long run.