Page 13 - CIJ May 2025- Digital Edition

NEWS TRACK

Mumbai adopts Robo Cleaning with BARC’s AuRoClean

s part of its Smart Cleaning superior manoeuvrability This makes it especially suitable
Initiative, the Brihanmumbai • A 24V, 130Ah lithium-ion for large indoor spaces that require
Municipal Corporation battery offering four hours of frequent and thorough cleaning,
(BMC) has begun deploying continuous operation enhancing hygiene while reducing
Aautonomous cleaning robots • A 400 mm scrubbing width man-hour expenditure.
developed by the Bhabha Atomic and 850 mm squeegee width While initially conceptualized
Research Centre (BARC). for maximum coverage for deployment in warm zones
AuRoClean, an Autonomous • 50-litre tanks each for clean of nuclear facilities, the robot’s
Robot for Cleaning, originally solution and dirty water design has proven versatile for
developed by BARC for indoor a wide range of applications.
environments such as nuclear • Laser- and ultrasonic-based Mumbai’s recent trials have seen
facilities, railway platforms, obstacle detection AuRoClean efficiently clean
airports, warehouses, and large • Onboard mapping sensors complex urban layouts, adjusting
shop floors. Designed to reduce and a user-friendly GUI for to different types of debris and
manual intervention in hazardous seamless operation surface challenges.
or labour-intensive environments, It offers both manual and The integration of intelligent
AuRoClean is now being adapted autonomous modes, with built- software, laser-based localization,
to meet the challenges of public in safety sensors like contact and precision scrubbing systems
urban spaces. bumpers and sonar arrays. enables AuRoClean to maintain
AuRoClean is a battery- Capable of generating cleaning consistent hygiene standards
operated, fully autonomous floor maps on the fly, the robot adapts in areas with high footfall. The
scrubber-dryer, featuring: quickly to new environments robot not only ensures operational
• A differential drive system for and performs cleaning tasks with efficiency but also contributes to the
minimal setup time. larger goals of smart infrastructure,
sustainability, and labor safety.
BARC’s initiative aligns with
India’s broader push toward
automation in public hygiene and
facility management. With cities
like Mumbai experimenting with
robotic sanitation, the goal is to
create a replicable model for other
urban centers. It has also outlined
the infrastructure required for
further scale-up, including:
• Machining workshops, PCB
fabrication, and electronic
component testing facilities
• Computers with Robot
Operating System (ROS)
support
• Testing spaces and teams to
oversee cleaning behaviour
and robotics calibration
As urban sanitation evolves,
such technologies represent a new
era in facility and infrastructure
maintenance where robots clean
tirelessly, safely, and intelligently.

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