Which cleaning robot do you recommend? What is the latest AI cleaning robot “Whiz”?

When it comes to AI cleaning robots for personal use, iRobot's Roomba is famous, but what about commercial use? This year, a new AI cleaning robot called “Whiz” by Softbank Robotics was born. In this article, we will introduce what a cleaning robot is and introduce the recommended AI cleaning robot "Whiz".

What is a cleaning robot?

AI cleaning robots are vacuum cleaners developed using various cutting-edge technologies. The latest robotics (robotics engineering) such as self-driving technology and mapping technology are used, and research and development is progressing to solve social problems such as labor shortages through cooperation between humans and robots. .

Benefits of introducing a cleaning robot

Since AI cleaning robots cost millions of yen per unit, if there is no advantage to introducing them, your superiors will not give you permission. So, first of all, I will introduce the merits of introducing an AI cleaning robot.

One of the big advantages of introducing an AI cleaning robot is to solve the labor cost problem. Purchasing a cleaning robot will incur an initial cost, but considering that it will be used for many years, the overall cost can be significantly reduced. For example, if you use an AI cleaning robot that costs 1.8 million yen for 5 years, the annual cost is 360,000 yen (excluding expenses such as electricity). It is only 30,000 yen per month, and you should be able to see that it is overwhelmingly cheaper than hiring a cleaning staff. Of course, it doesn't always break after 5 years of use, and if you can continue to use it for 10 years, the cost per month will be even lower.

One AI cleaning robot is expensive, but even if you want to introduce it, you may not be able to introduce it because your superior's permission is not obtained. In that case, leasing is recommended. Most commercial AI cleaning robots are leasable and can be introduced without preparing a large initial cost. If you are arguing with your boss about the initial cost, you should suggest leasing. Depending on the lease period, it can be used for about 2 to 10% of the main unit price per month, so it should be easier to start using than a bulk purchase.

If you are an AI cleaning robot, you don't need to post a job or interview. As long as the type of AI cleaning robot does not change, the performance is exactly the same, and it brings out stable performance. And with an AI cleaning robot, there will be no absenteeism without notice, and there will be no sudden absence from work (back-up). Including such a thing, there is no labor shortage, so you can spend the cleaning cost with peace of mind.

If you hire a janitor, there will be times when you suddenly stop coming to work due to some kind of trouble. If this happens, of course, the place that should be cleaned will not be cleaned and will remain dirty. However, with an AI cleaning robot, you don't have to worry about that. The AI ​​cleaning robot always cleans with exactly the same performance as long as it is not broken or running out of battery. Of course, you won't suddenly stop going to work, and if you turn it on and move it properly, you won't miss cleaning.

It is possible to divide roles, such as cleaning places that cannot be cleaned without human hands, such as hotel rooms, by human hands, and letting AI cleaning robots clean common spaces such as corridors. By dividing roles, cleaning can be carried out efficiently, and as a result, it also leads to "reduction of cleaning time = reduction of labor costs". Not only that, it also reduces the burden on cleaning staff, so if it is used well, both the company and the sanctions will benefit.

AI cleaning robots are all cordless and designed to operate automatically. Therefore, even if the AI ​​cleaning robot moves around, the cord will not get tangled and you will not inadvertently catch your feet. Some AI cleaning robots don't even have a charging cable, so if you're looking for a completely cordless AI cleaning robot, pay attention to how to charge it.

Weaknesses of the cleaning robot

This is a very useful cleaning robot, but it has one weak point.

The AI ​​cleaning robot can only move on flat floors and carpets. It's a robot, but it doesn't have jointed legs, so it can't go up and down stairs. Therefore, if you want to clean a wide area with one AI cleaning robot, you need to make it a barrier-free design that allows you to go up and down without stairs. Conversely, this is the only conspicuous weak point, so if you can overcome the step problem and allow it, you can use the AI ​​cleaning robot with peace of mind.

For commercial use, we recommend SoftBank's "Whiz"

Whiz is an AI cleaning robot made by SoftBank Robotics that went on sale this year. When it comes to cleaning robots, there are many for personal use, such as Roomba, but this one is for commercial use and is mainly used in facilities such as nursing homes and offices.

BrainOS used in self-driving car technology It is also installed in Whiz. BrainOS will not collide with obstacles, and it will not break due to random collisions. For example, when it comes to cleaning the inside of an office, there must be many obstacles, such as desks arranged in a complicated manner and chairs left out. However, Whiz's BrainOS avoids all obstacles and cleans safely and efficiently. Conversely, if it hits even obstacles that are not moving, it means that the automatic driving technology of the car has not progressed at all. With self-driving car technology continuing to grow, this is highly unlikely.

As I briefly introduced in the overview of Whiz, Whiz supports rental.

If you rent for 1 year, it will be over 100,000 yen a month, which is not much different from hiring a cleaner, but if you rent for 5 years, it will be much cheaper. It is almost impossible to hire a full-time cleaning staff who will clean enough for 30,000 yen a month. If the labor cost is 30,000 yen, and you work 20 days a month at an hourly wage of 1,000 yen, you can only work about 1 to 2 hours a day. If it's a small private office, it's okay, but it's almost impossible in a place with a certain scale. Whiz costs 30,000 yen per month and works with exactly the same performance every day, so it's very convenient.

You can use it with confidence because you don't have to worry about suddenly retiring at this low price. Even if it breaks down, unlike a cleaning worker as a person, there is no element that takes a lot of time and money to send out a job, interview, and re-employ, so you can calmly deal with sudden troubles.

If you rent Whiz, you will receive a free guarantee service (4,800 yen per month) that should be the winner. If the compensation service is valid, even if Whiz breaks down and a repair fee is incurred, it is possible to receive repairs free of charge. However, not all failures can be repaired free of charge, and if the cause is an event such as throwing the juice hard or tripping and kicking hard, the warranty service will not be applied and it will be a paid repair. There is a nature. Remember that it is best to handle them carefully.

The paper pack is where Whiz collects dust and other dirt. Therefore, when the paper carton is full, all you have to do is throw it into the trash can. Maintenance is very easy. Anyone who knows how to take out the paper pack can perform maintenance, so the introduction cost (training cost, etc.) can be reduced considerably.

Roomba is popular when it comes to AI cleaning robots for individuals, but it is only for individuals and is not suitable for cleaning over a wide area. Therefore, even if you are an individual and live in a large house, personal cleaning robots such as Roomba may not be powerful enough. In that case, you should install Whiz. Whiz is sold for companies, but it is not something that can only be purchased or rented by companies. If you don't have a budget, you can use it individually, so if you're not satisfied with the commercially available AI cleaning robots, Whiz is a good idea. However, unlike Roomba etc., it is tall, so you can not clean under the chair.

Resolving labor shortages with the introduction of the AI ​​cleaning robot “Whiz”

Whiz is a very convenient device that solves the labor shortage problem that any company is worried about. Not only can you reduce labor costs, but you can also operate 365 days a year without legal problems and without worrying about being called a black company, so you can maintain a clean space without difficulty. In particular, Whiz and other AI vacuuming robots suck up fine dirt that is invisible to the naked eye, so dust rarely accumulates on the surface. If you are a company or personnel manager who is worried about cleaning, why not consider using Whiz? It is also possible to request materials, so it is also recommended for those who want to see the catalog first.