City of Porvoo starts autonomous sweeping
The City of Porvoo will introduce a new type of sweeping robot in early August. The robot will autonomously clean the streets and paving areas in the Market Square and at the riverside, mainly at night. The sweeping robot is about the size of a small car and moves slowly.
Aiming for cleaner streets and more efficient maintenance
The City of Porvoo is leading the way in the introduction of an autonomous sweeping robot.
– The aim is to improve the quality of street cleaning in central areas. Regular cleaning helps to make the environment more pleasant and improves air quality. This fully electric machine reduces energy consumption and emissions, says Keijo Lehtikangas, Director of Maintenance.
The charging and emptying station for the sweeping robot is located in the inner yard of the property at Piispankatu 15, behind the City Hall. At first, the robot will focus on sweeping in Porvoo Market Square and the main pedestrian and street areas at the riverside. The plan is to expand the operating area gradually, based on user experience. The robot is in use during the snowless period for around 26 weeks a year.
Even before its introduction, the sweeping robot can be seen on the streets of Porvoo at night-time, mapping and learning its route.
What should you do if you come across the sweeping robot?
The sweeping robot observes its surroundings using sensors and stops when it encounters an obstacle, like a vehicle or a person. The robot also has a backup system for stopping when it encounters obstacles. In addition, continuous remote monitoring allows the robot to be redirected to a new route and, if necessary, the remote monitoring room can access the camera system.
If the sweeping robot is moving on a roadway, you can pass it in the same way as if it was working machinery. On the pavement, you can walk past the machine by keeping to the edge. If it is not possible to pass the robot side by side, take a roundabout route.
If the robot is about to cross a pedestrian crossing and has already started moving, let it finish crossing so that it does not stop in the middle of the crossing. Remote monitoring assists the robot when it crosses pedestrian crossings.
– Food delivery robots are already a familiar sight in the streetscape, and people have got used to seeing them in traffic. The sweeping robot is similar, but bigger and moves more slowly. Its maximum speed is about 4 kilometres per hour, says Lehtikangas.
If you notice any problems with the robot, you can contact the remote monitoring room by sending a WhatsApp message to 0449024794.
The service is purchased as a package
The City of Porvoo does not own the sweeping robot; instead, the City purchases the street-sweeping service. The service includes the introduction, operation, monitoring, and maintenance of the robot. The autonomous street-sweeping service is purchased from the Finnish company Trombia Technologies Oy using Trombia’s 8-year Robotics-as-a-service contract model.
Invitation to the media:
Media invitation: Sweeping robot demonstration on 5 August at 2:00 p.m.
A new sweeping robot enters service in Porvoo, Finland, at the beginning of August. Members of the media are welcome to see the robot and hear more about how it works on Wednesday 5 August at 2:00 p.m. in the courtyard at Piispankatu 15, Porvoo.
The robot’s operation will be presented by Maintenance Manager Keijo Lehtikangas of the City of Porvoo and CEO Antti Nikkanen of Trombia Technologies Oy, the equipment supplier.
Further information for the media:
Keijo Lehtikangas
Director of Maintenance
City of Porvoo
tel. +358 40 354 3225, keijo.lehtikangas@porvoo.fi
Antti Nikkanen
CEO
Trombia Technologies Oy
tel. +358 40 722 8309, antti.nikkanen@trombia.com
F.A.Q: Trombia Free in Porvoo
How does the robot perceive its surroundings? Is it safe?
The sweeping robot perceives its surroundings using sensors and stops when it encounters an obstacle, such as a vehicle or a person. The robot also has a backup system for stopping in front of obstacles.
In addition, the robot is under continuous remote supervision, through which it can be directed onto a new route and, if necessary, a camera connection to the machine can be established.
Trombia Free is equipped with 3D lidars, safety radars and complies with PlD safety classification.
What should I do if I encounter the sweeping robot in Porvoo?
On a roadway
If the sweeping robot is travelling on a roadway, you can pass it in the same way you would pass a works vehicle. Note that the robot may stop from time to time.
If the robot has already started to cross a pedestrian crossing, let it complete the crossing so that it does not come to a stop in the middle. Remote supervision assists the robot at pedestrian crossings.
On a pavement
On a pavement, you can pass the robot calmly along the edge. If there is not enough room to pass side by side, take another route around the robot.
How does the sweeping robot work?
The sweeping environment around Porvoo city centre has been pre-mapped utilizing satellite localisation and 3D point cloud mapping. This work is done by Trombia Technologies specialists and ensure that the sweeper can localize itself within the Porvoo city centre environment. After that the sweeping routes have been trained for the sweeper by the Trombia’s fleet service team according to the sweeping plan provided by the Porvoo city.
Sweeper will then according to schedule sweep designed routes, but also while sweeping scan for changes in environment to avoid obstacles, perform improved routing and also stay away from other road users. The sweeper sweeps at approximately 4km /h, uses carbon-free electric power and removes both PM2.5 dust and other debris.
