Orange robots clean up Dubai metro stations

Machines are being used on a trial basis

A cleaning robot in action at one of Dubai's metro station.
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Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has dispatched a team of robots to help clean up the city’s metro stations.

Mohammed Hasan Al Amiri, RTA director of rail maintenance, said that the machines were being used on a trial basis.

He said the project was in line with the RTA’s efforts to support the UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy, which was announced in 2017 to make the country a hub for developing AI technology.

“The use of robots in cleaning Dubai Metro stations is an experimental step considered the first of its kind worldwide in using such technology to clean metro stations,” said Mr Al Amiri.

“Once the success of the trial is verified, the technology will be deployed in other stations.”

Each robot is equipped with sensors to detect barriers and avoid collisions. It is not known how many of the machines are being used at metro stations or how long the trial is set to last.

“It [the robot] can also be pre-set to perform automated cleaning patterns of floors without human intervention except for simple steps such as adding water and programming,” said Mr Al Amiri.

“The RTA always seeks to harness the latest technology for serving the public.”