Robotics & Automation Magazine – Q&A

Gavin Holmes, New Product Development Manager at Robert Scott provides the answers to a Robotics & Automation Magazine Q&A feature.

1. Could you start by introducing yourself and your organisation, and explain your involvement with collaborative robots?

I’m Gavin Holmes, the New Product Development Manager at Robert Scott.

Robert Scott is one of the UK’s leading cleaning manufacturers and distributors, based in Saddleworth. We’re currently celebrating our 100th year in business, and throughout that century have been leading innovation in the cleaning sector. This made automation in commercial cleaning a natural progression for us. We pioneered collaborative robotics in the UK’s commercial cleaning sector by introducing the autonomous MS60 scrubber dryer cobot to the UK in 2023. We’re continuing to expand our range of advanced robotic tools designed to support cleaning and facilities management teams.

2. How are cobots currently being used in your operations or those of your clients? Which tasks or processes are they proving most effective in?

Cobotic cleaning tools are proving especially effective for time-consuming tasks such as floor cleaning. As they can operate autonomously with minimal supervision, they free up cleaning teams to focus on higher-value activities such as spot cleaning.

Recent trials of our MS60 scrubber dryer – a cobot that cleans floor surfaces – have shown that it can clean a 554m² sports hall in just 33 minutes and 35 seconds. A human operative using a standard machine scrubber with a 36cm diameter brush would need around 95 minutes for the same task, or around five hours with a smaller machine. In more complex settings, such as narrow hallways with tight and irregular spaces, the MS60 maintained a 97% success rate and cleaned at 440m² per hour.

Cobots can also streamline operational processes as well as the task itself. The MS60’s integrated charging station automates wastewater disposal and water refilling, and the machine can be controlled via its onboard control panel or remotely from a laptop or tablet. It also generates performance data, enabling teams to optimise schedules and monitor cleaning standards without the need for manual inspections.

We’ve recently launched the MT1 Robotic Sweeper, the world’s first AI-powered sweeping robot for large-scale environments. It uses AI cameras and Visual Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (VSLAM) for real-time waste identification and navigation and adapts continuously through deep learning.

Another new innovation is the SH1 Upright Scrubber Dryer, the first in the market to feature a unique wastewater tank that separates air, solids, and liquids to make refuse disposal easy and remove the risk of drain blockages. As well as scrubbing and drying floors, it can be equipped with a handheld kit for cleaning any horizontal and vertical surfaces, displays real-time information and on-screen training videos for the operative, and connects to WiFi to enable reporting.

3. What kind of productivity gains or operational efficiencies have you observed as a result of deploying cobots?

In sectors like education, retail, and healthcare, where there are pressures to create cleaner, safer, more efficient environments against stretched resources, cobotics offer much-needed support. Being able to deploy a cobot to autonomously and effectively handle time-consuming tasks reduces the strain on human cleaning teams and also cuts down on the time that facilities are out of action for cleaning.

The SH1 Upright Scrubber Dryer is a great example of this; it saves up to 80% on water and cleaning agent usage and can reduce cleaning time by 70%.

Cobots can also be more cost effective than traditional methods, especially for the most labour-intensive tasks. Trial data shows that the MS60 can deliver savings from day one on a leasing agreement, and even when purchased outright the machine will typically have achieved payback within two years. At that point, the return on investment becomes even more pronounced.

4. Can you share a specific case study or success story where cobot integration has delivered measurable ROI or business transformation?

The W12 Shopping Centre in Shepherd’s Bush has transformed its cleaning operations with a cobot. Cleaning contractor Dall Cleaning Services deployed the MS60 Scrubber Dryer to help the team tackle an expanded workload without compromising efficiency.

The MS60 handles the centre’s morning scrubber drying before opening hours, then switches to dust mopping mode during the day, working safely around shoppers. On a single charge, the machine can scrubber dry once and mop three times, covering nearly 5,000m² over seven hours of operation.

The performance metrics show that the cobot achieves an efficiency rate of 678m²/hour when scrubber drying. One full circuit around the shopping centre covers almost 1,200m² in less than two hours, using 50 per cent of its battery. In dusting mode, it cleans the same area at a rate of 639m²/hour, consuming just eight per cent of its battery.

Chris Fenn, Director at Dall, explained: “As a company we’re always keen to explore new innovations. In particular, we knew there was technology out there that could make a real difference with the new requirements we faced in the large W12 space. The idea of a robotic cleaning machine was particularly appealing because it could free up our team to focus on other tasks at the shopping centre, which aligned perfectly with our needs.”

“While the robot handles the floors, our operatives can focus on high-touch areas and new responsibilities like the car park. It’s a seamless integration that has made us more efficient without additional costs.”

“As it’s cobotics we were very conscious that we didn’t want to be losing people’s jobs; so now that we’re required to put extra manual resources into the carpark, the robot frees up some of the existing workforce. It’s worked really well.”

5. In what ways are cobots helping to improve workplace ergonomics and reduce physical strain on human workers?

In the commercial cleaning sector, cobotics have long been associated with improved consistency, enhanced productivity and greater staff satisfaction. Cobots can transform the working experience for operatives by automating repetitive, strenuous tasks. Their deployment can significantly reduce the physical strain on humans, whether that’s pushing a scrubber dyer or hauling cleaning supplies.

6. How do you see cobots contributing to workforce empowerment, rather than job displacement? Have you seen examples of workers upskilling or moving into higher-value roles as a result?

Cobots are designed to work with people and make their jobs easier, not to replace them. By taking over the repetitive and time-consuming tasks such as floor care, they free up time for cleaning teams to focus on more complex, detailed tasks that require additional skill.

Cleaning operatives can also take ownership of working with their robotic colleagues. It gives them a sense of responsibility and pride, not to mention the confidence shown in them by their employer who trusts them to run and maintain a higher value tool. Cleaners develop new skill sets when being trained to map and operate the cobots.

The deployment of cobots also enables teams to widen their remit without putting additional strain on teams. This was the case at W12 Shopping Centre, where the MS60 has freed up the team to take on an expanded contract.

7. What are some key considerations or best practices when planning a cobot deployment? How do you ensure a smooth integration into existing workflows?

We always recommend trialling cobots, so the cleaning team and site operators can see how cobotics can fit in with their cleaning regimes and improve their current processes. Involving the cleaners from the outset allows them to become familiar with the cobots, and gives them the opportunity to ask any questions, to build confidence and engagement straight away.

In the set-up phases, we work with the operatives on the areas being mapped, and how best to combine the mapping and cleaning tasks. They can then work with the cobots for a few days, getting hands-on training tailored to their specific environment, before we revisit the site and fine-tune cleaning plans.

The performance reports generated by cobots should also be used as much as possible. They build incredibly useful data insights such as the time taken to clean, the percentage of the floor covered, etc. This information can then help the cleaning manager to adjust workloads and schedules to achieve consistent, effective, quality cleaning based on real metrics.

8. How important are complementary technologies—such as grippers, sensors, or vision systems—in getting the most out of cobot investments?

There are complimentary technologies that can enhance what cobots can do; the MT1 Robotic Sweeper’s use of AI and VSLAM capability enables it to identify waste, navigate complex spaces, and learn over time.

There are other technologies that could be incorporated into cobotics, but some of these would require significant investment and on-site changes. For example, cobots could integrate with wider building systems, such as automatic doors, lifts, or security so the machine could open and operate them itself without needing human assistance.

9. What are some of the most common misconceptions or barriers around cobot adoption, and how would you address them?

The biggest misconception we see around cobot adoption is cost. As the market begins to mature, machines are becoming more affordable, especially when weighed up against rising manual cleaning costs and labour shortages. Finance options are also more widely available now, removing the barrier of a need for a larger initial investment.

Another common concern is usability. There’s sometimes a worry that introducing new cleaning practices might be difficult or teams may struggle to set up and deploy the cobots. But in our experience, cobots can be easier to use than traditional tools. The key is training and involvement: bringing the cleaners on the deployment journey so they are engaged with the process, rather than dropping off a machine and expecting it to be adopted to its full potential.

10. How do you measure the success of a cobot implementation – beyond ROI? Are there qualitative benefits that are equally important?

Some of the key benefits from cobotics is improved consistency, precision and cleaning performance. Cobots provide data on every clean, from coverage to timings to battery usage. All that data can be used to improve the cleaning offer. At W12 Shopping Centre for example, the MS60 acts as scrubber dryer out of opening hours, and carries out dust mopping during the day.

11. Looking ahead, how do you see the role of cobots evolving over the next five to ten years across different industries?

We’re already seeing more interest in cobotics. Over time, cobotics will become increasingly commonplace in workplaces. These machines will be a huge help in the cleaning sector, but across many other industries too.

Much like self-checkout machines, we’d expect some early resistance. But, as more data becomes available to prove the benefits and ROI of cobotics, this will give way to acceptance and even excitement as more companies embrace the new technologies and invest in improving their operations.

In the cleaning sector and beyond, the biggest driver for the adoption of cobotics will be how they improve efficiency whilst working alongside humans. There will always be manual tasks that are better performed by teams, but the ability to automate the repetitive, time-consuming, and strenuous tasks will appeal to many.