Heathrow invites passengers to choose the names of its cleaning robots
Heathrow has opened registrations to find the names of its fleet of cleaning robots - the so-called cobots - which have now become a familiar presence for passengers and staff. In recognition of their daily service, the airport has decided to give a unique name to each robot, directly involving the public.
Until 15 December, Travellers and citizens can propose a creative name via the dedicated platform on the Heathrow website. The selected proposals will then be submitted to a final vote, also online. Once the process is complete, each cobot will receive its own official ID badge.
These robots, true allies of the airport's cleaning crews, keep the terminals flawless thanks to advanced technologies that allow them to recycle water and clean up to 4,800 m² per day, equivalent to eight football fields. Each cobot operates for about three hours at a time, and then returns autonomously to its charging station and starts again for a new work cycle.
Their compact shapes and fluid movement are reminiscent of famous science fiction characters, such as the Daleks from Doctor Who or R2-D2 from Star Wars, often attracting the curiosity of passengers. Thanks to an intelligent mapping system, the cobots are able to safely orient themselves between the flows of the terminal without disturbing airport activities.
The page for sending names is active on the official Heathrow website and will remain available until December 15th. The shortlist of the best names will be revealed on December 16, while the final 23 names will be announced later this year.
Introduced in partnership with facility management company Mitie, Heathrow's cobots represent the largest autonomous airport cleaning fleet in the UK. Since 2022, Mitie has been managing terminal cleaning services with 850 specialists supported by the latest robotic technologies.
