by Brianna Crandall — June 25, 2018 — Tennant Company, a Minneapolis-based designer, manufacturer and marketer of cleaning products and solutions for maintaining surfaces in industrial, commercial and outdoor environments worldwide, announced it will launch its first autonomous floor care machine capable of operating in complex, real-world environments without direct operator control. The first Tennant autonomous solution is expected to be available in North America on the T7 floor scrubber in 2018, with further expansion into global markets and additional models to follow.
Tennant’s autonomous T7 scrubber robotic cleaning machine integrates Brain’s proprietary AI robotic technology software platform, BrainOS. Image courtesy Tennant
Tennant Company recently formed a relationship with Brain Corp, an artificial intelligence (AI) company specializing in technology for autonomous robots. The autonomous Tennant T7 will seamlessly integrate Brain’s proprietary AI robotic technology software platform, BrainOS, to deliver a cleaning solution designed to maximize productivity, increase efficiency and optimize safety. Brain is an industry-leading robotics software company specializing in the development of intelligent, autonomous systems that automate commercial equipment.
Chris Killingstad, Tennant Company president and CEO, stated:
With advances in robotics technology and our customers’ desire to operate their cleaning programs more productively, we are thrilled to combine the Tennant best-in-class cleaning equipment with the best-in-class autonomous navigation operating system from Brain. Our customers are continually looking for enhanced productivity, reliability, exceptional service and performance, and a reduction in the cost of ownership. Tennant is uniquely positioned to be a leader in the robotics cleaning market by offering a comprehensive solution that provides a single point of contact for quality products, extensive field service and support, robust customer training and process consultation.
Like many other industries, the cleaning industry is undergoing a transition as a result of disruptive technologies that are driving greater automation. Robotics and artificial intelligence technologies have made significant inroads across multiple business sectors. Specifically, robotics offer smart, safe and sustainable solutions to repetitive tasks while allowing organizations and its employees to focus on higher value-added activities.
Dr. Eugene Izhikevich, chief executive officer and co-founder of Brain, remarked:
We are very excited to be working with the Tennant team to integrate our BrainOS into its floor care cleaning products. Tennant has a strong reputation for advanced innovation and technology. BrainOS-powered Tennant floor care products deliver on that promise while simultaneously providing higher performance, increased productivity and greater reliability. The BrainOS platform and autonomous navigation system have been extensively field tested.
Since 1870, Tennant Company has maintained a sharp focus on advancing the cleaning industry by aggressively pursuing new technologies. Tennant says it will continue this legacy with the introduction of autonomous machines to help its customers increase their cleaning efficiency.
For more information about Tennant’s T7 Micro-Rider Floor Scrubber or Brain Corp’s BrainOS AI platform in advance of the autonomous T7, visit the respective websites.
