... applications: inventory management, the provision of customer assistance, cleaning and hazard detection and product delivery. It concludes with a brief discussion. Findings Robots are rapidly making inroads in the retail sector. They have been shown to reduce manpower requirements, improve efficiency...

...Wei Wang; Boyan Tang; Houxiang Zhang; Guanghua Zong Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of a robotic cleaning system for applying on the glass facade of the control tower at the Guangzhou Airport, in Guangzhou, China. Design/methodology/approach Four similar...

...Kenneth J. Waldron; Teodor Akinfiev; Manuel Armada; Samir Nabulsi Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a climbing cleaning robot with reasonably high productivities for vertical surfaces. Design/methodology/approach The paper analyzes the reasons for the low productivities...

...Xueshan Gao; Yan Wang; Dawei Zhou; Koki Kikuchi Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present an omni‐directional floor‐cleaning robot equipped with four omni‐directional wheels. The research purposes are to design a robot for cleaning jobs in domestic, narrow and crowded places and to provide...

...Osman Tokhi; Houxiang Zhang; Jianwei Zhang; Wei Wang; Rong Liu; Guanghua Zong Purpose This paper presents the design of climbing robots for glass‐wall cleaning. Design/methodology/approach A systemic analysis of the basic functions of a glass‐wall cleaning system is given based on the research...

...Mauro Onori; Anna Kochan Purpose Aims to describe the application of robotics to the cleaning of the glass roof of the 21 m high pyramid that stands in front of the Louvre in Paris. Design/methodology/approach Presents the design of the robot, its traction mechanism, cleaning system...

... robot platforms are discussed. These are followed by a review of some of the applications using dedicated robot systems, including an autonomous welding cell, a concept for process plant maintenance, a pipe inspection robot and systems for cleaning glass facades on high buildings. The latter work at IFF...

...Rinaldo C. Michelini; Francesco Cepolina The paper discusses commercial cleaning robots available on the market. It introduces Gecko, a virtual prototype of a cleaning robot. Gecko has been conceived, assembling mainly standard components, and the actual behaviour in running conditions is shown...

... © MCB UP Limited 2002 --> Cleaning Robots Cleaning Robot Keywords: Cleaning, Robots Applicant: Procter & Gamble, USAPatent number: WO0137060Publication date: 25 May 2001Title: Home Cleaning Robot The present invention relates to autonomous, microprocessor...

...Anna Kochan Reports on new automation technology for the tyre industry. Describes a laser process for the in‐press cleaning of tyre moulds. Outlines the potential for massive savings compared to conventional systems. JET Lasersysteme reports that its customers typically achieve a return...

...Brian Rooks Describes the background and development of a battery powered domestic robot vacuum cleaner. Major problems that have been solved are having the ability to clean a whole room without human intervention, and cleaning as well as a mains‐powered manual cleaner. A total of 50 on‐board...

... © MCB UP Limited 2001 --> Robots Cleaning Laser scanning Robot cleaner speaks up for itself at Manchester Airport "Although Initial has been pioneering the concept of robotic cleaning for a number of years", he adds, "it has not been until now that we have discovered...

... The robot is based on a Siemens' navigation system, which enables it to operate independently and orient itself automatically wherever it is. It moves among the shoppers cleaning and drying the floor, watches out for obstacles, and politely asks customers standing in the way to move aside...

...Steven C. Moore; Timothy J. Kurcz Describes the rationale, purpose, and design of the Loctite Corporation One‐Pass^TM (patent pending) robotic flange cleaning system. Also details two complementary Loctite^TM formed‐in‐place (FIP) gasket sealant dispensing systems: AccuPump 1000...

... such as façade cleaning, building and ship coating, ship welding, inspection work on tanks, and so on. It is a modular system, and the robot can be adapted to almost any surface, independent of the surface material or obstacles. The robot stays attached to the surface via suction cup feet or magnetic grippers...

...Gisbert Lawitzky Free navigation in indoor environments is one of the main enabling technologies for many service robot applications. Siemens has developed SINAS, a navigation system which currently is primarily targeted towards cleaning robot applications. Its suitability for tough everyday...

... © MCB UP Limited 1998 --> Cleaning Robots A robotic vacuum cleaner Keywords Cleaning,Robots Engineers at appliance manufacturer Electrolux AB in Stockholm, Sweden, are working on what is described as the world's first self-operating vacuum cleaner. The disk...

... Keywords Cleaning,Electrolux, Robots Engineers at appliance manufacturer Electrolux AB in Stockholm, Sweden, are working on what is described as the world's first self-operating vacuum cleaner. © MCB UP Limited 1998 --> Cleaning Electrolux Robots A robotic vacuum...

...Jan Larson The idea of robotic floor cleaning landed on the housekeeping industry like an alien from outer space in the early part of the decade. An industry that had seen little progress in the past 100 years suddenly was faced with a method of scrubbing and sweeping floors without a human being...