Technology gave us smart phones, TVs, and fridges, now a smart janitor is on the way.
Swingobot 2000 is the latest cleaning robot made by TASKI, in Switzerland. His function is to clean buildings in Maryland like hospitals, retailers and schools.
"It's the future of cleaning and we're very proud to be on the leading edge... In a small way we're creating a nice cleaner healthier environment," ACME Paper and Supply Equipment Manager Joe Theis said.
ACME Paper bought the machine and have had it in their hands just over two weeks. They've been putting the bot through its paces, making sure it's ready to work in the community.
Swingobot is outfitted with state of the art technology to sense its surroundings, a laser on top, holes all around the front with sonar sensors, and touch sensors on the bottom of the machine as an added precaution.
The reason for so many sensors is to detect a variety of obstacles, from IV stands in hospitals, to water fountains.
It even has turn signals like a car. A big brain takes in all the data from the sensors and maps out an area it is commanded to clean.
"You know it's a mundane task to clean a building and now you have a machine to do that. We're not trying to eliminate jobs. What we're trying to do is multiply the force that you have to work in your building," Theis said.
Theis said they will not lay off any of their employees as they start using the Swingobot, instead their employees will perform more detailed tasks that a robot cannot do.
Adding a robot to the workforce means more efficiency and a cheaper price for businesses, Theis said. It's even a game changer for ACME Paper, saying the bot pays itself off in about a year.
The robot can clean with a variety of products, water for a warehouse floor to pick up dust and dirt, or any chemical, like a disinfectant or bleach, that is popped into the machine.
The robot has also been dressed up to make him look more fun. He's transformed into a school bus, train, and tulip field.
"As technology changes and as the playing field changes we can upgrade this machine to make it as new and as exciting as we can," Theis said, meaning only the tech would be updated, not the physical machine.
Theis said he couldn't reveal who they are testing the bot with, but that they're hoping for him to start work next year.
