Ramping up automated cleaning — Brain Corp is supplying 360 robotic floor scrubbers to Walmart

by Brianna Crandall — December 18, 2018 — Brain Corp, a San Diego-based software technology company, recently announced that it has entered into a relationship with Walmart to provide artificial intelligence (AI) services to the world’s largest retailer.

Brain Corp’s BrainOS platform currently automates more than a hundred of Walmart’s fleet of commercial floor scrubbers across the United States. BrainOS provides the machines with autonomous navigation and data collection capabilities, all tied into a cloud-based reporting system. Walmart expects to have 360 robots powered by BrainOS in stores by the end of its fiscal year, January 31, 2019.

Robotic floor scrubber in Walmart

Walmart will add 260 floor scrubbers to the 100 now automated by Brain Corp, with autonomous navigation and data collection and reporting capabilities. Image courtesy Brain Corp

Walmart’s BrainOS-powered floor scrubbers allow store associates to quickly map a route during an initial training ride and then activate autonomous floor cleaning with the press of a single button. The robot uses multiple sensors to scan its surroundings for people and obstacles, providing a high level of safety and performance.

John Crecelius, Walmart’s vice president of Central Operations, remarked:

We’re excited to work with Brain Corp in supporting our retail operations and providing our associates with a safe and reliable technology. BrainOS is a powerful tool in helping our associates complete repetitive tasks so they can focus on other tasks within role and spend more time serving customers.

Dr. Eugene Izhikevich, CEO of Brain Corp commented,

We are thrilled to partner with Walmart to enhance customer experience at its retail locations. BrainOS technology allows robots to effectively and safely function in complex, crowded environments, ensuring increased productivity and efficiency across applications. We look forward to continuing to work alongside Walmart to help build intelligent, connected stores.

Brain Operating System (BrainOS) is the foundation of Brain Corp’s technology platform. It is a proprietary operating system that integrates with off-the-shelf hardware and cloud technology to provide a cost-effective “brain” for robots. BrainOS has computer vision and AI libraries that enable quick and efficient development of smart systems that learn and adapt to people and complex environments. Its navigation stack provides advanced self-driving capabilities for cluttered and dynamic indoor environments.

For more information, visit the Brain Corporation website. The San Diego-based AI company specializes in the development of intelligent, autonomous navigation systems for everyday machines, enabling the rollout and scalability of robotics solutions by partnering with commercial equipment manufacturers and key technology providers.