Campus Cleaning Services welcomes four new ‘cobots’

Campus Cleaning Services has welcomed four new robotic floor‑care machines as part of an exciting trial to enhance efficiency and support teams across the University.

The LionsBotLink opens in a new window robots arrived on Wednesday 18 March and will be hard at work in the Faculty of Arts Building (FAB) and Sciences areas, taking on routine vacuuming and floor‑scrubbing in high‑traffic spaces.

Victoria Lovelock‑Bruce, Campus Cleaning Services Manager, says the robots are already creating a buzz on campus.

“We've been mapping and programming them initially for set-up, and on the first day they arrived students were still in the FAB, and they were taking photos and selfies with them," said Victoria.

“The robots have faces and expressions and even sing songs sometimes! I feel there will be lots of interaction and students will enjoy seeing them as part and parcel of the cleaning teams.

“The great thing is that these robots can tackle the huge floor areas that take a lot of time and resource, like the Agora in the FAB. If the cobots handle the floors, our teams can focus on the detailed work that keeps standards high.

"It reduces pressure, supports deep cleaning, and helps us better manage service levels during holidays or absences.

“We’re calling it ‘cobotting’ because it’s truly robotic collaboration, working in harmony with technology.”

Embracing the process

Victoria also praised the enthusiasm of staff involved in the rollout, including CCS Assistant Yupa Oneill: “She's been really excited and really embraced the whole process.”

CCS teams include robot ‘champions’, where they use an accompanying app to monitor activity. This helps staff take care of the robots and make sure they are working as intended.

Richard Amphlett, Tender and Contracts Manager for Estates, added: “Over the past six months we’ve explored how robotic floorcare can support our existing team in a ‘cobotic’ approach. We’ve engaged with manufacturers, visited other universities and carefully reviewed the technology.

“This is a significant investment and undertaking for the Campus Cleaning Services team, and over time we’ll be gathering data to understand its impact and future potential, including in STEM areas.”

The trial represents an important step in modernising cleaning services, combining skilled human expertise with smart technology to enhance standards across campus.