SSC Magazine

The Facility Aside from the operator, the building the AMR is placed in is the number one determination for program success. Not all fa- cilities are created equal and not all are appropriate for productive AMR use. The most obvious locations are wide-open spac- es with few obstacles: gymnasiums, atriums, and cafeterias, but wide, long hallways are also great locations. While some units are designed to be more maneuverable, they still need 7-10 feet to complete a U-turn, so beware of small spaces and older buildings, especially those with small elevators; many are not wide enough or deep enough to allow operators to move the units between floors.

We advise AMR Scrubbers be allocated to a single building

Two Main AI Maping Modes Teach and Repeat is simply a copycat mode able to repeat a map. This mode is benefi- cial for areas that change their layout. Area Fill-In mode is where the operator traces the perimeter in manual mode, and then AI calculates the most efficient path for the spaces’ interior. Once an area is mapped, each subsequent use sees the operator simply bringing the scrubber to the starting point, selecting the map, and watching AI take over. Multiple maps and routes can be stored for each starting point to aid in building occupancy timed cleaning as well.

The AI If you invest in multiple units, many companies provide access to cloud-synced digital dash- boards for reporting and fleet accountability functions. Some are decidedly better than others, so in the demo process, make sure to investigate the dashboard features because these can greatly aid in accountability and KPI tracking of a large fleet. And as technology is always progressing, make sure you are track- ing the AI’s latest software release so you can take advantage of the updates and improve- ments the equipment functionality. AMR Scrubbers have 360-degree sensors and cameras to control their movements. This includes movement for cleaning and safety. They protect themselves with drop-off sen- sors to avoid stairs or loading docks and obstacle detection and avoidance for when a piece of furniture is moved to a new location. The safety systems also protect peo- ple by automatically detecting and stopping when people get too close – for instance, a first grader who forgot their library book and is running back to their class- room and steps into the path of a 1,000-lb. ro- bot. For additional safety, the sensors overlap, and there are auto-stop buttons and beeps to alert passersby.

These machines are delicate, and more than one has succumbed to the handling of doorways, thresholds, uneven sidewalks, and lift gates involved in transportation to neighboring facili- ties. A broken sensor can cost between $10,000 to repair or $60,000 to replace a piece of equip- ment. Add to that the lead time for such special- ized parts and a unit could be down for over a month. So, for us, it is not worth the efficiencies obtained from increased use by assigning it to multiple buildings because of the increased risk of damage. When we decide to move an AMR to a new location, we have the vendor take on the responsibility of shipping.

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