Among the high-tech machinery, towering inventory racks and precisely moving robots of Project ROAR at the Associated Food Stores distribution center, a different kind of automation quietly goes about its business, one beep and sweep at a time.
Small, round and always on duty, a fleet of automatic Makita vacuums patrols the decks of the Symbotic system, working day and night to keep dust, crumbs and stray debris from interfering with the state-of-the-art fulfillment operation. The robo-cleaners may not sort groceries or move pallets, but they play an essential role in keeping the system running smoothly.
“They’re the unsung heroes of ROAR,” said Tony Merrill, general manager at the distribution center. “They just do their thing, silently cleaning up to keep the decks free of dust and debris.”
The Makita vacuums operate autonomously, gliding across the decks, gently bumping into the occasional wall, turning and heading off in a new direction without complaint. Their mission is to protect the Symbotic system from the fine layer of dust and debris that could compromise efficiency or cause errors in the high-speed process.
With Project ROAR streamlining product movement through automation and robotics, cleanliness is more than just cosmetic. Dust can interfere with sensors, slow down mechanical parts or simply add wear and tear to the system. That is where the humble vacuums come in.
While they may not have names yet, the vacuums have earned a reputation for reliability, showing up every day to keep their areas clean so the Symbots can stay focused on the task at hand.
“We’ve got all this cutting-edge automation, and right alongside it are these little guys just cleaning house,” Tony said.
As Project ROAR continues to evolve, the vacuums will keep rolling, whirring and sweeping in the background, quiet custodians of one of the most sophisticated systems in the grocery industry.
