Since autumn 1999, ST82 R cleaning robots have been helping the personnel in many supermarkets. The automatons are able to find their way between shelves and merchandise with the help of the Siemens navigation system SINAS. Sensors provide continuous information on the position of the robot and its surroundings. A laser scanner and ultrasonic system prevent crashes with customers and shopping carts. If a collision is imminent, the robot politely asks if it may pass. If the robot receives no response, it maneuvers around the obstacle. Henceforth, teams of automatic cleaning helpers will work together to clean large areas such as in airports or train stations. To accomplish these jobs, Siemens developed a new cooperative navigation system. In the future, Siemens researchers also want to develop robots that can think independently. Today's neuronal networks are still simulated with software, which, among other things, makes the identification of objects relatively slow. Tomorrow's net works will be able to recognize patterns in real time.
