Robots are Found Assisting Cleaners at Bedok and NUS as Part of the INCUBATE Partnership Programme

We’ve all experienced it before. Had a sudden onset of butterfingers, spilled coffee in a mall, then spent the next fifteen minutes attempting to muster up the courage to ask the friendly cleaning auntie or uncle for help, struck by the irrational fear of incurring their wrath. 

But we may not need to trouble them anymore to clean up our mess, because robots are here to help cleaners with their work (and our clumsiness). 

Cleaning Robots are Popping Up Everywhere to Assist Cleaners in Their Jobs

The National Environment Agency’s (NEA) INnovating and CUrating Better Automation and Technologies for Environmental Services (INCUBATE) Partnership Programme aim to spur innovation along with greater utilisation of technology. 

The solutions for the programme were developed by Heartbeat@Bedok, and NEA collaborates with partners to identify and provide solutions to problems that occur during environmental services (ES) delivery. 

As of now, the programme has 21 partners and has launched 46 trials. 

According to Mr Darren Teng, senior manager in facilities management and operations at Heartbeat@Bedok, cleaning and surveillance robots, along with smart compactor bins, have helped to increase productivity by up to 30%. 

The National University of Singapore (NUS) has also joined the INCUBATE Programme, introducing cleaning robots and other forms of technology to assist cleaners with their work. 

Both Heartbeat@Bedok and NUS have adopted an outcome-based model, which helps to boost efficiency and empowers the creation of new technologies and solutions. 

They have also invested in upgrading their ES workforce by training them to use these smart devices in their work. 

The HeartbeatBOT helps with the scrubbing of floors, which allows cleaners to spend more time cleaning high-touch points like door handles, which is especially important in this pandemic. 

The technology can also help with security issues by reporting suspicious activity and unattended bags. It can also be used to broadcast safe distancing reminders to the public. 

Smart compactor bins have been trialled by Heartbeat@Bedok. These bins inform cleaners when they are almost full so that they can be emptied when necessary. These greatly assisted cleaners, who had to check bins every four hours prior to the implementation of these smart bins. 

Manpower Challenges to the ES Industry 

The ES industry is grappling with the issue of an ageing workforce, which means that a transformation to the industry is needed to ensure its sustainability. 

The adoption of technology allows ES companies to upgrade their employees’ skills and incentivise a younger generation to join the industry. 

According to Mr Dalson Chung, director of NEA’s Industry Development and Promotion Division, innovation can help to reform the image of the ES sector from one that is low-skilled to one that is highly skilled and productive. 

Featured Image: Natali _ Mis / Shutterstock.com