Summary & Reader Respons (Draft 4)

GERMii’s article “How tech can ease the cleaning industry’s manpower crunch” (2021) informs the public about a GERMii project that aims to investigate the trends affecting public cleanliness. GERMii and SoftBank Robotics collaborated to develop Whiz, a commercial floorcare AI-powered cleaning robot. Automated cleaning enables cleaners to focus on tasks that benefit people. Whiz automatically avoids collisions and sends operators "real-time data and alerts," making supervisors comfortable even with minimal supervision, organizations can study data collected by robots and spot trends to enhance workflows. An ultraviolet light (UV-C) concentrated laser beam can eliminate Covid-19 and other kinds of viruses, and bacteria using GERMii technology. Because of its germicidal properties, the UV-C range is used. The light in this range will destroy molecular connections in the DNA of viruses and bacteria, leaving them unable to multiply and effectively killing them (H2O Distributors, n.d.). Whiz, when combined with ultraviolet radiation (UV-C) destroys germs, viruses, and pathogens without the need for chemicals, achieving excellent cleanliness levels. Therefore, Whiz’s usage of (UV-C) light, self-automation capability, and resistance to illness free up the staff to do niche duties that only they can perform. 

People greatly benefit from having a robot that is automated. Robotic vacuums are genuinely cutting-edge. They can independently design cleaning paths after employing several sensors to analyze the area that needs to be cleaned. They can be made to avoid specific regions through programming. Because of the innovative in-built technology, Whiz can adjust and grow with each cleaning, providing a very effective and focused cleaning solution. Commercial cleaning crews have witnessed a noticeable gain in efficiency, with quicker turnaround times for cleaning tasks and improved cleanliness outcomes (Interclean, 2021). With the aid of an automated cleaning robot, individuals are able to complete most of the cleaning tasks.

Whiz cleaning robot has an advantage over the cleaning staff as they are immune to disease. In the fight against issues related to Covid 19, the robot can be combated well (Ruan et al, 2021). Robotic cleaners are efficient and reasonably priced. They are always accessible and considerably less expensive than housekeepers. The device can be configured to clean precisely as needed and requires little maintenance, only occasionally do you need to empty the container or replace the vacuum bag (Roborock, 2021). The downtime of a robotic cleaner will always be lesser than a housekeeper. The robotic cleaner has greatly advanced in recent years, with improvements in hardware and software, such as self-emptying containers, that were previously unthinkable (So, 2020). This feat is unachievable by housekeepers which gives the cleaning robot an edge over them. With the aid of the Whiz cleaning robot, cleaning tasks will be done faster and save time for the housekeeper.

Better scheduling of human resources will result from the use of (UV-C) light. Ultraviolet light (UV-C) has germicidal qualities and is effective not only against the covid-19 virus but also against other viruses, bacteria, and diseases (all from Lightsource 2021). Particularly in the present, when the outbreak is so severe (UV-C) will shield us against this virus, (UV-C) light will shield us from this virus. Beta coronaviruses and other microorganisms have been shown to be killed by (UV-C) light (Buonanno, et al, 2020). According to a new study published by Heilingloh et al the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 can be killed by (UV-C) light in liquid cultures (2020). This is due to SARS-CoV-2’s sensitivity to exposure to ultraviolet light. Whiz cleaning robot (UV-C) light can kill microorganisms in fluids, on surfaces, and in the air. (UV-C) light renders microorganisms dormant by damaging their nucleic acids and stopping them from reproducing. Because an inactivated cell becomes harmless and incapable of spreading disease. Whiz’s usage of (UV-C) light will eliminate viruses, bacteria, and diseases, protecting people’s health on behalf of the cleaning crew.

However, are 2 key disadvantages of the Whiz cleaning robot short battery life, the potential for running out of power while cleaning, and lengthy charging times. Ineffective cleaning can't get to the corners of the house, where most dust and filth collect, and loudness while cleaning the region. If you have a little cleaning robot and fuzzy animals that shed a lot, make sure the container is empty on a regular basis or replace the bag (KENT RO SYSTEM, 2019). Cleaning robots aren't intelligent enough to avoid every roadblock in their path, this means that you must tidy up your home before the robot begins cleaning (Valet Maids, n.d.). Buying new parts could be expensive, most models come with a warranty, and it's common for them to exclude wear and tear from frequent use. Repairing a worn-out or damaged robotic cleaning device can be costly. (Power Tools, n.d.). When the robot loses power, it is programmed to return to its recharge site. It usually works perfectly, but the robot gets lost or gets stuck every now and then (Bradley, 2015). Despite all these drawbacks, the advantages still outweigh the drawbacks because, given enough time, cleaning robots can improve their navigation to meet the high standards of cleanliness that are currently required, and because they can work anywhere and at any time without being affected by viruses, unlike cleaners.

In conclusion, current cleaning robots employ UV light to eliminate bacteria, fungi, and viruses because of their germicidal capabilities. Additionally, since cleaning robots are automatic, they don't require human supervision, and viruses and other harmful substances have no influence on them. It frees up people to do tasks that can only be performed by them, such as deep cleaning specific areas, comprehending specialized requests, understanding human emotions, and developing innovative solutions.

References

Bradley, T. (2015, December 22). Pros And Cons Of Using A Robot Vacuum. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/tonybradley/2015/12/22/pros-and-cons-of-using-a-robot-vacuum/?sh=3bf10e9e4ac4

Buonanno, M., Welch, D., Shuryak, I., & Brenner, D. (2020, June 24). Far-UVC light (222 nm) efficiently and safely inactivates airborne human coronaviruses. Nature. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-67211-2

GERMii. (2021, June 1). How tech can ease the cleaning industry’s manpower crunch. Govinsider. https://govinsider.asia/future-of-work/how-tech-can-ease-the-cleaning-industrys-manpower-crunch-robots-germii/

H2O Distributors. (n.d.). How ultraviolet sterilization works. https://www.h2odistributors.com/pages/info/how-ultraviolet-purification-works.asp?gclid=CjwKCAjws--ZBhAXEiwAv-RNL48XlE-cqkbFLLi_QxZiTyePjMACHMH9gbxJ_vEA7JC5jl9ngq9RMBoCPbAQAvD_BwE

Heilingloh, C., Aufderhorst, U., Schipper, L., Dittmer, U., Witzke, O., Yang, D., Zheng, X., Sutter, K., Trilling, M., Alt, M., Steinmann, E., & Krawczyk, A. (2020, August 4). Susceptibility of SARS-Cov-2 to UV irradiation. American Journal of Infection Control. https://www.ajicjournal.org/article/S0196-6553(20)30756-2/fulltext#%20

Interclean. (2021, June 1). AUTOMATED CLEANING: THE GAMECHANGER IN THE CLEANING INDUSTRY? https://www.intercleanshow.com/news/robotics/automated-cleaning/

KENT RO SYSTEM. (2019, November 28). Why do you need to avoid using robotic vacuum cleaner. https://www.kent.co.in/blog/reasons-to-avoid-buying-a-robot-vacuum-cleaner/

LightSources. (2021, December 21).  Does UV light kill COVID-19? .https://www.light-sources.com/blog/does-uv-light-kill-covid/

Power Tools. (n.d.). The advantages and disadvantages of robotic vacuum cleaners. https://tools.gretah.com/robotic-vacuums/the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-robotic-vacuum-cleaners/

Roborock. (2021, October 15). Top 10 Advantages of Using a Robotic Vacuum Cleaner. https://us.roborock.com/blogs/blog/top-10-advantages-of-using-a-robotic-vacuum-cleaner-1#:~:text=Robotic%20vacuum%20cleaners%20are%20economical,container%20from%20time%20to%20time.

Ruan, K, Wu, Z, & Xu, Q. (2021 July 12). Smart cleaner: A new autonomous indoor disinfection robot for combating the COVID-19 pandemic. MDPI. https://www.mdpi.com/2218-6581/10/3/87/htm

So, A. (2020, December 29). How to get the most out of (or into) your robot vacuum. WIRED. https://www.wired.com/story/surprising-tips-for-your-robot-vacuum/

Valet Maids. (n.d.). Pros and cons of robot vacuum cleaners. https://valetmaids.com/pros-and-cons-of-robot-vacuum-cleaners/