SoftBank Robotics Singapore (SBRSG), Asia Pacific headquarters of SoftBank Robotics, partners with Australian pathogen mitigation company, GERMii, to fight the COVID-19 virus in Australia, with the launch of a 2-in-1 automated commercial floorcare cleaning and disinfection solution GERMii UV-C for Whiz.

The partnership sees SBRSG combine the capabilities of its AI-powered flagship robot vacuum cleaner, Whiz, with GERMii’s ultraviolet-C (UV-C) technology that kills bacteria on contact. GERMii’s collaboration with Whiz allows the robotic device to capture and kill pathogens both on the floor and in the air by harnessing UV-C technology to sterilise its path.

This solution is already being used and embraced by both cleaning services companies and their customers due to its ability to disinfect not only the COVID-19 virus, but all known, everyday viruses and pathogens such as gastro, influenza, and staphylococcus aureus (golden staph). Whiz not only cleans and sterilises floors, but also can reach GERMii UV-C handhelds across high touch areas such as elevators, workstations, and electronics to instantly sterilise surfaces.

GERMii specialises in the application of proven UV-C sanitisation or sterilisation technology, designed, engineered, and locally manufactured in Australia. GERMii’s technology, it claims, has enabled the sterilisation of high-risk, unventilated areas such as aeroplanes in 12 minutes, and hotel quarantine rooms in just five minutes.

Whiz works autonomously and is said to deliver consistency in cleaning standards. It allows staff to focus on other tasks and frees them from laborious large-scale cleaning.

Kenichi Yoshida, SoftBank Robotics chief business officer, shares: “We are proud to be collaborate with an Australian-born innovator in the fight against COVID-19 in region. Our flagship robot, Whiz, in partnership with GERMii, will help tackle the real risks Australians face every day in quarantine hotels and other high-risk areas.”

He adds: “With a heightened focus on eliminating any transmission from quarantine hotels and international flights, we are committed to plugging this gap by eradicating pathogens directly at the source to save time and help cleaners focus on areas unreachable by machines.”

Harold Van Haltren, GERMii CEO, claims: “This marriage of two best-in-class products will be instrumental in the eradication of the COVID-19 virus in Australia.”

“Although UV-C is not a new technology, pre-Covid it was inefficient at removing bacteria from surfaces due to its low, slow exposure times. The GERMii team has developed a design that allows the mobilisation of UV-C, enabling effective sterilisation in just seconds rather than hours,” he shares.

Van Haltren concludes: “Our mobile device can now be bolted onto Whiz to create an AI-powered sterilisation machine, and we’re excited to see this collaboration making Australian communities safer among the pandemic.”