ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

A UK hospital has shown its lighter side by "employing" a robot cleaner in the shape of an ambulance.

The machine is currently patrolling the corridors of Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Huntingdon. It has been dubbed Moptimus Prime - a play on the fictional Transformers' character Optimus Prime - following a Twitter poll.

The robotic scrubber dryer uses ultraviolet technology to eliminate 99.9 per cent of viruses and bacteria in the hospital. It has an internal mapping system and has been pre-programmed to carry out routine cleaning tasks, freeing up staff to focus on more complex duties.

Moptimus Prime has been supplied by Mitie which has been providing services to hospitals for more than 20 years. The company claims to have several other live trials on the go using robotics, telemetrics and other cutting-edge technology.

The robot was named via an online poll among the hospital's social media followers.
Moptimus Prime won 43 per cent of the vote while other suggestions - DUST-E, RoboMop and Clean-3P0 - trailed behind.

Moptimus Prime joins a stealthy "invasion" of robots in our hospitals. Xenex Germ-Zapping Robots - currently employed in several US facilities - use UV light to disinfect surfaces such as bedrails, tray tables, bathroom handrails and toilet seats.

Last year two Belgian hospitals were equipped with humanoid robot "receptionists". The robots were put in place to greet visitors and patients as they arrived, using integral cameras and sensors to allow them to detect human emotions.

And in 2014, A fleet of Dalek-style robots were deployed at a North Wales hospital after an outbreak of Clostridium difficile. The machines were used for deep cleaning the wards of Glan Clwyd hospital in Bodelwyddan.