Grand Rapids Racquet + Fitness needed an efficient, autonomous solution that could:

 

The MT1 delivered all of this and more. The AI-driven robot impressed Walker and others within the facility right away, starting with installation.

 

“The install was very surprising,” he says. “Our previous robot had to be pushed to map the entire place. The MT1 was so easy. We simply pushed it along the perimeter once and then it mapped itself using AI. Over 100,000 complex square feet with curtains, nets, etc., and we got it mapped within 45 minutes. It was up and running in less than an hour and a half. The MT1 required no additional wiring, and its charging dock plugs into a standard outlet. Set up was very fast and very easy for a very complex floor plan.”

 

Because the MT1 is equipped with the latest in Lidar SLAM + VSLAM integrated positioning, plus 3D depth perception and multi-sensor fusion to navigate complex environments, the robot can intelligently map its surroundings in just a few quick steps. It’s also “smart” enough to both avoid obstacles and find safe ways around them. This robo-intelligence has really impressed Walker.

 

“Our old robot would often get tangled up in the large curtains that line and separate the courts. It also chewed up electrical cords. Now, the MT1—the other day I forgot to pull the curtains open when I left for the night. I realized it the next morning and was worried about what I might find when I got to work. Well, it was amazing. The MT1 found its own way through the curtains, onto the courts and was halfway done with a cleaning run by the time I got there!”

 

Walker and the other staff at Grand Rapids Racquet + Fitness have been thrilled with not only the performance of the MT1, but the great value it provides to the facility day after day. According to him, the math is easy.

 

“Let’s do a quick calculation. Yes the robot is an investment upfront, but then you figure out what it's able to get done in four hours a day compared to paying someone to work those hours overnight—if you can even find someone to do that! With how efficient it is and not having to pay someone extra to do that overnight cleaning work, the MT1 easily pays for itself in a year.”

 

And, according to Walker, the excellent cleaning results reinforce that value with each cleaning run. “The level of suction and dirt pickup is much better than our previous generation robot,” he says, “and also much better at cleaning than someone using a walk-behind machine.”

 

It’s also easy to use and control on a daily basis, giving him reassurance that cleaning will always get done exactly the way it’s supposed to.

 

“Knowing that I can customize it to clean exactly as I need it to—whether that’s going over specific areas multiple times, adding or subtracting certain areas from its cleaning route, subdividing the map into different sections…. And I can do all of this from my phone, I can control the robot remotely and I have assurance that it will clean exactly as I’ve asked it to. It eliminates the issue of overnight cleaning staff not showing up.”

 

Plus, not having to worry about how the floors will be cleaned every night has real benefits for the facility. “Having the floor cleaning automated lets us focus on providing great service to our members and increasing membership,” Walker says.

 

Walker’s not sure if the novelty of the MT1’s impressively quick and effective cleaning power will ever wear off. For now, he’s enjoying demonstrating it to members, visiting players, and industry colleagues.

 

“I do like to show it off,” he says. “During a recent tennis tournament, one court was getting a bit dirty. So we decided to take a quick break and show off the MT1 and how fast it cleans a court. All the players were amazed. It's definitely a great piece of tech to show people. We’re really having fun with it.”

 

And if people are skeptical that a relatively small robot can handle such a large facility? “I like to tell people, it does more than you can imagine it can do,” he says. “Can it possibly work that well? Yes it does!”

 

Ultimately, Walker hopes that other facilities in the athletic space will consider automated floor cleaning units like the MT1, and he’s eager to spread the word. 

 

“This machine is a must-have for any indoor tennis or athletic company or enterprise. It is a must-have cleaning tool, period. It’s going to save time and money and make their facility spotless. This extends to colleges and universities, clubs, or any indoor athletic venue.”

 

If you're interested in learning more about new solutions to old floor cleaning problems, get in touch with our team of experts today!