SMRT increases cleaning robot fleet to 89

SMRT now has 89 "advanced cleaning robots" to clean MRT stations.

In a Facebook post on Nov. 16, the public transport operator said it is "embracing innovation" to keep its MRT stations cleaner and more efficient.

The cleaning robots can clean a defined area in just ten minutes compared to the 30 minutes it used to take, it added.

"This means a cleaner environment for everyone, faster," said SMRT.

13 robot cleaners deployed at Circle Line MRT stations in 2021

SMRT has steadily increased the number of cleaning robots used at its stations over the past few years.

In February 2021, the corporation deployed 13 robot cleaners at Circle Line MRT stations.

Each robot can clean large floor areas two to three times faster compared to manual cleaning, the public transport operator noted.

SMRT stated the move towards higher productivity through automation gives cleaning staff opportunities to upskill themselves.

"Cleaning staff will be trained to manage several robots efficiently, and they can be freed to perform other duties," said SMRT, adding that the cleaners are trained to troubleshoot minor faults, such as clearing obstacle-related faults.

Robot cleaners are just one of the solutions SMRT is implementing to improve the efficiency and productivity of its rail operations and maintenance regime.

Through the Intelligent Facilities Management (IFM) initiative, SMRT said it aims to reduce its annual energy consumption at train stations by over 7,000 Megawatt hours (MWh).

Top image via SMRT/Facebook