Walmart to roll out robot janitors: 360 floor scrubbing AI bots set to take to stores across America

Walmart is set to unleash AI controlled floor scrubbing robots at its stores.

The autonomous janitors can clean floors on their own, even when customers are around, the startup behind the smart bots said.   

The world’s largest retailer will roll out 360 autonomous floor-scrubbing robots in some of its stores in the U.S. by the end of the January, it said in a joint statement with San Diego-based Brain Corp., which makes the machines. 

 

The autonomous janitors can clean floors on their own, even when customers are around, the San Diego startup behind the smart bots said

HOW THE ROBOT CLEANERS WORK 

The autonomous machines are equipped with sensors to scan for people and obstacles nearby.

The floor scrubbers need a person to map an initial training route, but can then follow the route on their own. 

Walmart’s BrainOS-powered floor scrubbers allow store associates to quickly map a route during an initial training ride and then activate autonomous floor cleaning with the press of a single button. 

The robot uses multiple sensors to scan its surroundings for people and obstacles. 

‘We are thrilled to partner with Walmart to enhance customer experience at its retail locations,’ says Dr. Eugene Izhikevich, CEO of Brain Corp. 

‘BrainOS technology allows robots to effectively and safely function in complex, crowded environments, ensuring increased productivity and efficiency across applications. 

‘We look forward to continuing to work alongside Walmart to help build intelligent, connected stores.’

The robots already scrub floors at airports in Seattle, San Diego, Boston and Miami, Izhikevich said. 

Brain Corp’s BrainOS platform already automates more than a hundred of Walmart’s fleet of commercial floor scrubbers across the United States.  

Walmart has also been experimenting with automating the scanning of shelves for out-of-stock items, and moving products from storage for online orders. 

‘We’re excited to work with Brain Corp in supporting our retail operations and providing our associates with a safe and reliable technology,’ says John Crecelius, Walmart’s VP of Central Operations. 

The floor scrubbers need a person to map an initial training route, but can then follow the route on their own.

The floor scrubbers need a person to map an initial training route, but can then follow the route on their own.

‘BrainOS is a powerful tool in helping our associates complete repetitive tasks so they can focus on other tasks within role and spend more time serving customers.’

Brain last month unveiled a smaller version of the machine developed jointly with SoftBank Group Corp.’s robotics arm and aimed at the Japanese market. 

‘BrainOS is a powerful tool in helping our associates complete repetitive tasks so they can focus on other tasks within role and spend more time serving customers,’ John Crecelius, Walmart’s vice president of central operations, said in the statement.

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