A machine sweeps, mops and scrubs away a dirty mess all by its lonesome. No, it’s not the plot to Wall-E 2. Instead it’s what will soon be a real life scenario for the Gov. Mifflin High School in Shillington, Pa. The Berks County school recently bought a robot, yes, a robot, to clean its floors.
The Gov. Mifflin School Board approved the $25,350 purchase during a 6-3 vote last week, according to the Reading Eagle. The robot will arrive once the dealer, the Franklin Cleaning Equipment and Supply Co. in Plymouth Meeting, has one available in stock.
The machine will be programmed with a floor plan of the school and clean the hallways by itself while the human janitors focus on other areas. School District Business Manager Mark. R. Naylon tells the Reading Eagle the purchase was made to help reduce the custodial staff and save money. The district will save an estimated $20,600 a year with the new purchase after maintenance costs, according to Franklin Cleaning.
Naylon also says the machine should arrive within a month. As the anticipation builds, one can only imagine just how cool, or creepy, the robot janitor will be. Let’s hope it has more in common with Wall-E and Johnny 5 than the T-1000 and HAL.
